Clearview AI

Transparency and accountability 🙈

Clearview AI's technology is often used in secret, without transparency or accountability, making it difficult to track its use and impact. Here are some of the tool's transparency and accountability limitations:

• Policies. Clearview AI's policies and procedures for collecting, storing, and using facial recognition data are not clearly disclosed.

• Data sources. Clearview AI does not disclose the sources of its facial recognition data, making it difficult to understand how the data is collected and used.

• Data sharing. Clearview AI does not disclose with whom it shares its facial recognition data, making it difficult to understand how the data is used and by whom.

• Data storage and security. Clearview AI does not disclose how it stores and secures its facial recognition data, making it difficult to understand how the data is protected.

• Algorithmic decision-making. Clearview AI does not provide transparency on how its facial recognition algorithm works, making it difficult to understand how decisions are made.

• Independent oversight. Clearview AI does not have an independent oversight body to review its facial recognition practices and ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

• Law enforcement use. Clearview AI does not disclose how its facial recognition technology is used by law enforcement agencies, making it difficult to understand how the technology is being used in practice.

• Misuse. Clearview AI does not have clear policies or procedures in place to address misuse of its facial recognition technology, making it difficult to hold the company accountable for any harm caused.

• Complaints and appeals. Clearview AI does not have a clear complaint mechanism for individuals to report concerns or errors related to its facial recognition technology.

• Error rates. Clearview AI does not disclose its error rates for facial recognition, making it difficult to understand the accuracy of its technology.

• Bias and discrimination. Clearview AI does not disclose how it addresses bias and discrimination in its facial recognition technology, making it difficult to understand how the technology may be unfairly impacting certain groups.

Risks and harms 🛑

Clearview AI is a seen to pose multiple risks and harms, including: 

• Privacy and surveillance. Clearview AI scraped people's images from social media and other online platforms without consent, violating privacy and enabling the mass surveillance of individuals.

• Civil liberties. The use of Clearview AI's technology may potentially undermine freedom of speech, the right to assemble and other civil liberties.

• Bias, discrimination and misidentification. Facial recognition technology has been shown to have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable people, including those of colour, immigrants, and low-income communities.

• Security. Clearview AI's database has been shown to be vulnerable to data breaches, thereby compromising sensitive information about individuals and its customers.

• Erosion of trust. The use of Clearview AI's technology can erode trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, particularly in communities that have historically been subject to discriminatory policing practices.

Legal, regulatory 👩🏼‍⚖️

Notable lawsuits against and involving Clearview AI include: 

• ACLU v Clearview AI

• In re: Clearview AI, Inc. Consumer Privacy Litigation

• Mutnick v. Clearview AI, Inc. et al

• Thornley v. Clearview AI

Regulatory actions against and involving Clearview AI:

• Australia. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) launched an investigation into Clearview AI's facial recognition technology and its compliance with the Australian Privacy Act.

• Austria. Austria's Data Protection Authority ruled that Clearview AI violated the EU's GDPR on multiple counts.

• Canada. The Canadian Office of the Privacy Commissioner launched an investigation into Clearview AI's facial recognition technology and its compliance with Canadian privacy laws. Clearview exited the market in July 2020.

• France. The Commission Nationale Informatique & Libertés (CNIL) launched an investigation into Clearview AI's facial recognition technology and its compliance with the French Data Protection Act. The CNIL fined Clearview AI EUR 20 million.

• Germany. Hamburg's Data Protection Authority found that Clearview AI unlawfully processed an individual's data by deriving biometric information from their facial image, and ordered the deletion of the specific biometric data.

• Greece. The Greek Data Protection Authority (HDPA) launched an investigation into Clearview AI's facial recognition technology and its compliance with the Greek Data Protection Act. The HDPA fined Clearview AI EUR 10 million.

• Italy. The Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante) launched an investigation into Clearview AI's facial recognition technology and its compliance with the Italian Data Protection Code. The Garante fined Clearview AI EUR 20 million.

• Netherlands. The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) fined Clearview AI EUR 30.5 million for multiple violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

• UK. The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) launched an investigation into Clearview AI's facial recognition technology and its compliance with the UK's Data Protection Act. The ICO fined Clearview AI GBP 7.5 million in May 2022.

• Sweden. The Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection found that the Swedish Police Authority processed personal data in breach of the Swedish Criminal Data Act when using Clearview AI to identify individuals.

• Vermont. The Vermont Attorney General's office sued (pdf) Clearview AI for violating consumer protection law. Vermont had its motion for summary judgement denied.

Research, advocacy 🧮

• ACLU (2024). Police Say a Simple Warning Will Prevent Face Recognition Wrongful Arrests. That's Just Not True

• EDRi (2022). About Clearview AI’s mockery of human rights, those fighting it, and the need for EU to intervene

News, commentary, analysis 🗞️

• https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/18/technology/clearview-privacy-facial-recognition.html

• https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/04/clearview-ai-immigration-ice-fbi-surveillance-facial-recognition-hoan-ton-that-hal-lambert-trump/

• https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/2/11/21131991/clearview-ai-facial-recognition-database-law-enforcement

• https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/clearview-ai-fbi-ice-global-law-enforcement