Clearview AI It has become one of the most controversial companies related to artificial intelligence. After announcing his plan to store and recognize the face of every human being on the face of the Earth, many organizations and governments have started to move against this idea. In fact, at the time we told you why it could become something terrible if it happens. Now it looks like it has been the United Kingdom that has decided to make its next moveand requires Clearview AI to “remove all images of its citizens that they have collected from the internet and social media to create a global database that can be used for facial recognition.”
According to the media CNET, the order has been issued by the data protection regulator in the UK. In addition to this, Clearview AI is asked to pay a bail of 7.5 million pounds sterling (9.4 million dollars, approximately). In addition, from now on, the company will not be able to collect more images nor any other type of public information of the citizens of the region.
Just a few days ago, Clearview AI was faced with a similar situation with the US authorities. On this occasion, however, the company was prohibited from trading with users’ public or private information; which means that from this moment you can no longer sell it to third parties. Likewise, it will have to stop providing its facial recognition service and its database to the police departments of some states in the country; a fact that many cataloged as the perfect recipe for discrimination.
Large-scale facial recognition is a bad idea
Clearview AI Inc has collected multiple images of people around the world, including in the UK, from a variety of websites and social media platforms, creating a database of over 20 billion images. The company not only makes it possible to identify these people, but also effectively monitors their behavior and offers it as a commercial service. This is unacceptable.
John Edwards, Information Commissioner
In addition to this, Edwards assures that international cooperation is essential for data protection of users. Thus, he adds that he will have some meetings with officials of the European Union in the city of Brussels during the coming week to discuss the issues of facial recognition on a large scale.
Clearview AI has grabbed multiple images of each of us from the internet, and now makes them available to the highest bidder. The use of facial recognition on billions of photos will end anonymity as we know it.
Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, a human rights group