Clearview AI: The database for photos from social media
Clearview AI uses a facial recognition software to create a database of billions of publicly available photos of human faces. The photos for this index were provided from social media and other online sources. With the help of Clearview AI software, other publicly available images of the same person can be found using a single facial photo and linked to personal data such as social media profiles, name, place of residence and occupation.
In 2024, Clearview AI cooperates with many law enforcement agencies, particularly in the United States. The USA is also Clearview AI’s main market, according to CEO Hoan Ton-That.
“While there has been tremendous demand for our service from around the world, Clearview AI is primarily focused on providing our service to law enforcement and government agencies in the United States,” he told BuzzFeed News in 2021.
In 2019, the Indiana State Police was the first official customer. This was followed by the Department of Homeland Security.
According to an investigation by Buzzfeed , authorities from various EU countries have also at least tried out the software.
What is Clearview AI?
Clearview AI acts like a biometric search engine. The company uses its software to index around 10 billion images (the target is 100 billion). These indexed images come from the internet and social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X etc. and are analysed using the company’s own AI tool. This identification aid enables Clearview AI to support criminal prosecutions in the USA, for example.
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