Evolv Express weapons detection

Evolv Express is an 'AI-based weapons screening system' that detects guns, knives, bombs and other concealed offensive weaponry at schools, hospitals, sports and entertainment venues, and public events.

Massachusetts-based Evolv Technology, which manufactures Evolv Express, says it uses 'proven' AI and machine learning to enable scanners to create unique 'signatures' of weapons that differentiate them from items such as computers or keys, thereby reducing manual checks and preventing long queues. 

In November 2023, the company announced that it was stopping an average of approximately 1,000 weapons each day from entering venues in the US in which they do not belong.

Risks and harms 🛑

Criticism has been voiced about the accuracy of Evolv's Express system, its dual-use potential and the truthfulness of its marketing, amongst others.

Transparency and openness 🙈

Marketing claims made by Evolv have repeatedly been questioned by journalists, independent security experts and others. 

• The company markets Evolv Express as being 'effective at preventing shootings' and as a 'line-free' system that requires 'no stopping,' emptying of pockets, or removing the contents of bags, and that fewer security staff are needed than with traditional metal detectors. But it has offered little evidence supporting these claims, and has refused IPVM permission to test its product. As a number of commentators have pointed out, many school shootings are carried out by gunmen openly carrying their weapons.

• A Freedom of Information request made by IPVM and shared with the BBC showed Evolv had made multiple 'tracked changes' to the NCS4 test report, including deleting sections critical of Express, resulting in a partial 25-page public report. Evolv’s full, private report was made only available upon request with the company 'under non-disclosure to qualified security professionals with direct responsibility for deployment of Evolv Express,' drawing significant criticism. NCS4 evaluators said they 'Recommend full-transparency to potential customers based on data collected.' 

Legal, regulatory 👩🏼‍⚖️

• The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an investigation into Evolv over marketing claims it made about its AI systems accurately identifying weapons passing through its screeners.

• Evolv confirmed that the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) was conducting a confidential 'non-public, fact finding inquiry' into the company.

Research, advocacy 🧮

• IPVM. Evolv reports

• ACLU (2022). Are Gun Detectors the Answer to Mass Shootings?

Investigations, assessments, audits 🧐

• National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (2022). Product Operational Exercise (pdf)

News, commentary, analysis 🗞️

• https://theintercept.com/2023/05/07/ai-gun-weapons-detection-schools-evolv/

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/05/20/evolv-metal-detectors-gun-detection/

• https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d3dw5/the-least-safe-day-rollout-of-gun-detecting-ai-scanners-in-schools-has-been-a-cluster-emails-show