Clearview AI was fined in the UK and forced to delete facial recognition data from its organization

The Clearview AI Based on artificial intelligence, it is known for developing facial recognition software that uses thousands of images from social networks. The The solution created has created controversy Now, in the UK, the The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined the company more than .5 7.5 million.

The problem is primarily the use of images of UK citizens without their permission, something Violates country data protection laws, Explains the company In a statement. The ICO orders the company Stop collecting and using data from residents of the country and deleting it from their systems.

The British company explained that Clearview AI would have collected more than 20 billion images of people’s faces and data generally available on the Internet to create its database. Targeted citizens are not informed about their collection and use of information.

According to the ICO, although it no longer offers its services to companies in the UK, the company has customers in other countries and uses personal data from residents of the country.

John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner, Clearview AI “Not only does it identify people, it effectively monitors their behavior and provides it as a business service”. “This is unacceptable,” the official insists.

The ICO’s decision follows a joint inquiry with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) ​​in Australia. “This international collaboration is essential to protecting the privacy rights of the people,” says John Edwards. The case will be taken to Brussels so that it can be analyzed by European regulators.

In May, Clearview AI agreed to restrict the use of its massive collection of faces to bring a case to a close in the United States.

In December 2021, France forced the company to erase all data collected from the French population in order to provide its face recognition technology. According to the Privacy Controller, the data is illegal and violates the principles of the Public Data Protection Regulation, as well as other regulations in the country regarding data access, processing and storage.