Evolv Express
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Evolv Express is a controversial "concealed weapons detection system" that is said to use "advanced sensor technology and AI" to detect 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, thereby differentiating them from items such as computers or keys and reducing manual checks and preventing long queues.ย
System ๐ค
Website: Evolv Express ๐
Released: 2019
Purpose: Detect weapons
Type: Weapons detection system
Technique: Computer vision; Machine learning; Object recognition
Transparency and accountability ๐
Marketing claims made by Evolv have repeatedly been questioned by journalists, independent security experts and others.ย
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. Commentators have pointed out that 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. Evolvโs 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.'ย
Risks and harms ๐
Criticism has been voiced about the accuracy of Evolv's Express system, its dual-use potential and the truthfulness of its marketing.ย
Civil rights advocates have also expressed concerns that Evolv Express and similar systems could easily be combined with other surveillance technologies, such as facial recognition.
Incidents and issues ๐ฅ
March 2024. Evolv backtacks on UK testing claims
February 2024. SEC launches investigation into Evolv Technology
November 2022. NCS4 finds Evolv Express fails to detect large knives
October 2022. Student stabbed after Evolv weapons detection failure
January 2022. Evolv Express mistakes certain Chromebooks as weapons
Legal, regulatory ๐ฉ๐ผโโ๏ธ
Research, advocacy ๐งฎ
IPVM. Evolv reports
ACLU (2022). Are Gun Detectors the Answer to Mass Shootings?
Investigations, assessments, audits ๐ง
National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (2022). Product Operational Exercise (pdf)
Page info
Type: System
Published: December 2022
Last updated: November 2024