Jan 18 2020: A facial recognition company dug up billions of photos from Facebook and beyond

Back in Jan 18 2020: A facial recognition company dug up billions of photos from Facebook and beyond

Clearview AI, a facial recognition AI tool, has amassed over three billion images scraped from the internet to create a database for law enforcement agencies. The tool uses publicly available images, including from social media platforms, to identify potential suspects or victims.

Despite the ban of facial recognition tools in San Francisco, there are no federal restrictions on their use. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is calling for lawmakers to halt the use of this technology, citing privacy and regulation concerns. Clearview AI plans to expand its use in the future, potentially exposing personal information with just a glance.

Fast forward to Sep 25 2023: FBI Agents Are Using Face Recognition Without Proper Training

The FBI has done tens of thousands of face recognition searches using software from outside providers, but only 5% of agents with access to the technology have taken the training course on how to use it, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

The report also revealed that the FBI has no policy in place to protect privacy or civil rights. Lawmakers and experts have emphasized the need for proper training to reduce errors and improper use of face recognition technology. The report focuses on tools made by commercial and nonprofit entities, not the FBI's in-house platform.

What are the potential risks of using face recognition technology without adequate training or policies to protect privacy?