Clearview AI Alarm - NY Times Report Says "Might End Privacy"
Over the weekend, the NY Times released a report titled "The Secretive Company That Might End Privacy as We Know It" about a company named Clearview AI who is selling facial recognition to police departments.
The main differentiation is that the company's facial recognition cloud service matches against billions of photos from "Facebook, YouTube, Venmo and millions of other websites".
The highly critical report immediately caused alarm and widespread condemnation.
Inside this note, we examine:
- What Clearview AI's "innovation" is
- Comparison to Russia similar service
- What is not innovative
- The legal issues they likely face
- Why this is so powerful
- Detailed examples from a police department
- The confrontation this creates
- Feedback to IPVM from a veteran security professional who has used Clearview
- The specific use case this address and the ones it does not
Tech *** **********
** * ********** *****, ***** ** no **** ********** ***** ******* ****. The **** ** ***** *** *** touting *** ********** ******* ** *&*.
**'* ** ****** ******* ***** ***** can ****** ****** *** *** ******* back. *** ***, ** *****, ** is ******* ** ***** *** ******* access **** * ***** *** **** pay *** ******* ******.
Innovation - ******** ******** ***.
*** ********** ** *********** ***-******* ******** of ****** **** *** ****** ********. With ********* *** ****** *********** ******* sold ** ************ *****, ** ***** with ** '*********' ** '********' ** the **** ** ***** **** ******** their ***, ***** ** ********* *** impractical *** **** ** ***** ***** lists.
********* **'* ********, ********* ** *** NY *****, ** ** **** ****** websites, ** ** ******** ** ********, copy *** ***** *** *****, ********* a **** / ********* **** ** where **** ***** ** ****, ********* it **** ********* **'* ********.
** *** ** ********-******** *******, **** is ******* ***** ** ******** ** *********'* employees ** *** **** ****:
*** *******, ** * ********* ** user ******** ** ***** ** * Hikvision ********, ******* ******* *** *** person ***, ********* ** ***** *********** return * ***** ** **** ***** and **** ****, ******* *** **** know *** ******'* **********, ***.
Russia ******* *******
**** *****, *** ******* * ******* approach ** ******, *****, *.*.,******'* ***** *********** ******* ***** **** **** ******* to *** *** ** ********. ***** is ** ******* ******:
*** ****** ***********.******* ******** ******* ** **** * phone ******. ** ******** ******* ****** stored ****, **** ******** *** *** ******. The *** ***** ************ ******* * Russian *** **** * ***** ****** captured ** ***, ********* *****:
******* *** *****, ******** *****, ******** *********** *******:
***********
*** ***** ******* *** ********* ** is **** **** ******** ******** ****, if *** ****, ******** ***** ** services, ** *** ** ***** *******:
********, *******, *******, ********* *** **** Venmo. *************** ** ***** ********* **** their ******** ******** **** ********, *** Twitter **** ************ ********* ** *** **** *** ****** recognition....
*** ****** **** ********* ** ******** on ** **** *** ******* ** unique. ****’* ******* ******** *** ***** social ***** ***** ******** ****** **** scraping *****’ ****** — ********* ** violating *** *****’ ***** ** *******.
********* ** *** **** ********* **** much ***** *** *****, *.*., ** had ***** ***** ** **** *** until *** ** ***** ******* *** investigation, ********* ** *** ** *********** on ***** *******. ***,**** **** **** ***** ***********.
*** ** ***** ****** *** ******* heavy ******** ********* ** **** *******. We ***** ****** ****, ********** ***** Facebook ** ***** ******* ******** *** various ******* **********, **** *** ***** major ******** ***** ****** ***** ****** against ********* **.
Powerful ********
*** ***** ***** **** ****** ******** of ****** ** *********** ***** *******. The ******* ** **** ****** ** 2020 **** **** ****** ** ********** on ****** ***** ********. *******, **** security *** ************ ***** **** **** few ****** ********* ** ****** *******.
**** ***** ******** ******** ****** ****, except **** ***** ** ** ****** largely *******.
Police ********** ********
**** *** ***************************** ****** ******* **** *********** ***** ******* **** *** ******** and ***** ****.
************, ********* ** ** **** ******** ~$100 *** **** *** ***** (* users *** * **** - $*,***):
*** ****** ******** * **** **** of *********, ******** **** **** ******* police ********** ****** ***** * **** for ****:
**** *** **** *********** ***** * match:
*** ****:
** **** **:
Confrontation *******
** **** ******** ** *******, ** will ******* ****** ****** ** ********* doing ****, ** ***** ** ** doubt **** ****** **** * ******* watchlist ** ** ********** *********** *********.
*****, ** *** ***** ****, ** is ****** ******* *******.
**** **** ** **** **** ***** a ******* *** ***** *** *** but *** ****** ******* ** *** process? ** ** ******** *** ** are ********* ** ********* ** ** a ***** ******* *** *** ******* to ********** ****** (****** ****) ** low ** ***-********.
Veteran ******** ************ *** *** **** *********
* ******* ******** ************ *** *** used ********* **** **** ********:
********* ** ****** **** *** **** all **** ***********, *** ******** ***** it **** ******** ** * **** and *** ***** ****** ***** ******** are ************ *********. **** *** *** a **** ** ***** ***** * human ******* ** **** ******* *** returned ****** *** ****** ***** **** deserve ********** ****** **. *** *** "match" **** ** **** **** **% at ****.
*** ***** ******* ** ********* *********, and, ** ****, **** ********* *** the ** ***** **** **** *** been **** ** ****** *********** **** have ********* *** ***** ** ***** such *****.
*** ***** **** ****** ***** *** the **** ** *** ** ***** report **** ** ***** ********** ** made ******:
****** ******** *** *********’* ********* ******* that *** *** **** ********** ** available ** *** ******.
Use **** - *** ** **** ******? *** ** **** ****** ****?
***** * *** ** ****** *********** is **** *** *** *** **** of "*** ** **** ** **** person ** ** **** *****", ********* AI ******** ** ****** *** ********: "Who ** **** ******?"
**** ** **** ****** ** ****** because *** ********* ** **** ******* has * ******* ** * ****** but *** ** ********. ** *** image **** ** * ***** ***** anywhere ** *** ******** *** ***** that, **** ** *** ***** ** years *** ** **** *** ****. The **** ***** ****** ***** ** establish ** ******** ** *** ******, which, ******* **** * ********, *** be ********* ** **.
*******
********* ** ****** **** *** ********* benefits *** ***** ** ****** ***********. How **** ** ******** **** **** a *********** ****** ** *****-*******, *** surveillance ********, *** ****** *******.
Exercise **** **** ******* ******.
******** ** ******** **** ********** ****** can ** ********* **** *********-********@*********.**. (*** ***** *** ******* ************)
***** ****** *** ******* ** *********** that **** ** ************. ** **** honor **** ********, ********** ** ********* as ******** ***** ********** **** ********** rules *** ***** ****** *** *** absolute: **** ** *** ****** ***** and ********** *** ** *******. ********* does ******* **** ******* ********** *** sharing ** ******** ** ***** ******** data ******* ** **** *********** ** verify ***** ******** *** ** ********** the ********** ** **** ********. ***** most ** **** *********** ** ******* after *** ********** ** *** *******, Clearview ** ******** ** ****** **** of **** *********** ** ******** * record ** **** ****** ********. ** we ** *** ****** **** **** request, ** **** ******* ***.
** *** ***** **** ** *** a ******** ***** *** ******* ****** or ******** **** **** ******* ****** please ******* ** **:*******-********@*********.**. **** ******* **** ******* *** to *** **** ********** *******. ****** submit ****, * ******** *** * photo ** * **********-****** ** ** facilitate *** ********** ** **** *******.
"**** ***** ******** ******** ****** ****, except **** ***** ** ** ****** largely *******." * ***** **** ** know *** ** **** ******* ** U.S.? ******* ** ** **** ******* to ****? ******* ** ** **** GDPR+ **** ***?
******* **** ** * ******** *** a ******. *** *** ******** ** terms *** ********* ****** ** ******?
*** ****** *** ** *** *** I ** ******* ******* ***** ** so **** ******** ***** **.
******* **** ** * ******** *** a ******. *** *** ******** ** terms *** ********* ****** ** ******?
*** * ****** *** ** * know **** ***** **** ****. ************, ***. *. ***** ********, ***. case***** ** ** ********.
** * ****** *****, ** *** allow ****** ** ***** ********, ********, Twitter, ***. *** **** **-**** *** content, **'* ***** ** ***** * lot ** ********, ** * ** skeptical **** **** ** ***** ** be *******.
*** *** ***** **** **** ** one **** *** **** **** ********* that ********* **** ***** ******* **** decided **** ** *** * ******* tactic.
**** ****, * ***'* ****, ***** Clearview ** '****' **** *** ******* expectations ** **** *** ** *******.
***** ** **** **** ********** **** I ** ********** **. * *** just ******* ** ***** ******* ** question *****.
****’* *** ***** **** ******.***: ** relies ** ****-***** ******. ****, ******** can *** **** ********* ********* ******** to *** *** ***** ******** ********, but **** **** *** **** ** can ** ** ***** *** ********* IPs. ********, ******** **** *** **** any **** ** ***** ********, ****** to * *** ******* ***** ******** from **** **** *********** ****, ***. *. ******** ****.. **** *** ********:
***** ********* ****, *** ******* *********** that ******** ***** **** ******** ** public ******** ********. ******** **** *** a *****-***-****** ******, ********* **** *** stop ********* *** ******* **** **** LinkedIn’s ******. *** ***** ****, ******* injunctive ****** ***** ** ********** *** and * *********** ******** **** ******** could *** ******** ****** *** ******** Fraud *** ***** *** (“****”), *** Digital ********** ********* ***, ********** ***** Code § ***(*), ** *** ****** law ** ******** ******* **.
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* *** **** ******* ** ***** answers ** ******** *****....
********, ******** ****not **** *** **** ** ***** ******** thanks to a 9th Circuit Court decision [emphasis added]
**** ** * ******** *** ********* misleading********* **** *** ******** ** ***********.
*****, **'* *** * ***** ********. It's ************ **********, ** ***** ******* ** * court ***** ** * ***** ************* of *** ****** ** * ***** case.
**** *******'* *********** ********** *******, *** ***** **** ***** ***** basis **** ** **** *** *** given, **** ******* ******** *** ***** would ** *** ** ******** *********** before *** ***** ***** **** ** completed:
*** ***** **** **** *** ******** court *** *** ***** *** ********** in ********* *** ******** *** ********** that, **** ** **** ******** ***** retain **** ******* ********* ** ***** information *************** ***** ******** ** **** their ******** ******, ***** ********* *** not ******** ***’* ******** ** ********** its ********.
***** **** ******* (***) **** *** it ******** *** ******* ******* *** other ***** ********** **** ***** ** brought *** ********* **** "******** **** not **** *** **** ** ***** recourse" ** ************* *** ********* *****.
** **** ** *** ***** ******** accurately ***** ***, ***** ********* ** way ****** ************* ************. **'** ** the **** **** ** ***** ************ and * ***'* *** *** ******* trend ** ***** *** *** ******** will ********** ****, ******* **. ******** and *** **** ** *********** ****** to ***** ***** *** **********.
** * ******* ** ********** ***** available ***** ** *** *** **** allowing *** ***** ** **** ******* them ** **** * **** ** believe ***** ** * **** ** be **** **** ******** *** *** Amendment. ********** ** **** **** ** to *** **** *****, ***** *** NYT ***** ** ***** ** ** the **** ***:
*** ******** **** ********** *** ***, analyzed ** *** *** **** *****, includes *********** ******** ** **** ** with *********-******* *******; ***** ***** *********** be **** ** ******** ***** ****** they ***.
*********'* *** ** ** *** **** Morning ******** (*.*., *********) *** ********* use ** ****** ***** ******** ***** on ***** *********:
*********: *** ******* ** * ****** recognition ******* ********* ** **** “**************” and “* *********” ** ******** ***.
********* **@**************, ********* ** *** **** ***-**** talks **@***************** *** ************* ******** ** *** first ** *********.***.*******.***/**********
— *** **** ******* (@**************)******** *, ****
** ** *********** **** ********* *** generated **** ****** ******** ** *** industry *** ********* ** ** * major ********** ***** *****.
** **** *** **** * ****** of ****.
*****://***.*************.***/*********-**-******-***********-*******-****-*****-****-***-***********-****-******-******-****-***-******?******=****&***=***
********* ** ***** ******:
"******** ** *********'* *** ********. *************, data ******** *** **** ** **** in *** **** *******."
**** ******** *** **** ** **** now...
* *** **** *****, ***** *** two ********** *** **********. ********* *** your ******* *** ******* ** ** better. ***** *** "****'* ****".
***: ***** ******** ************* ****** *********** app ********* ** **** *** ********* program.
***** ********* ********* ** **** *** developer ******* *** ********* ******** - CNN
*'** **** ******** ***** **** ***** defense **** ********* ** **** **** publicly ********* ******. * ***** **** photos ** ****** ** ********. **** my ******* ***** ** ** ** hero *********** ******. *******, ****** **** posted ****** ** ** *** ****** me. * **** ***** ** ********** for ***** ****** ** ** *** on ********. ** ********* ** *** scraped ***** ****** **** ***** ** it ** **** ********** *** **** my ******** ********** *** ***** *** explicit **********. ** ***** ******** ** legally ******, ***** ****** ***** *******, post *** *** ****** ** ** scraped **** ********* ** ** **** no ********.
********* ** ********** ***** ******* **** the ****** *********** ***** **
****** *********** ******* ********* ** *** Been ************* **** ******** *******
*** *** **** *****: ****** ********* Became * ****** ****, ** *** a ****** ********* ** *** ****.
****** ********* ****** * ****** ****, It *** * ****** ********* ** the **** - *** *** **** Times
****** *** *******. *****!
**** ************, *** *********** ***** ** the ********* ******* ***** *****, *** having ****** ** ********, ** ******* Italian ********** ** *********’* **** ************, when *** ********, ******, ****** **. She *** ** * **** **** a *** **. ************ ****’* *********. After *** ****** *** **** ** another *****, **. ************ ***** * waiter ** ** **** *** **** a *****.
**. ************ **** ******** *** ******* to * ****** *********** ***, ********* AI, ** *** *****. *** *****-** behind *** *** *** * ******** of ******** ** ******, ******* **** sites **** ** ********, ******* *** LinkedIn. ****** *******, **. ************ *** viewing * ********** ** ****** ** the ******* ***, ***** **** *** web ********* ***** **** ********: *** daughter’s **** *** * ******* ********** from *** *********....
*** *****, *******, *** ********** ******** individuals **** ****** ****** ** *********’* technology *** *** *** *** *********** officials. *** *** **** **** * year ****** *** ******* ****** *** subject ** ****** ********, *** *** had **** ****** **** ** *** wild ** *** *******’* *********, ******* and *******.
**** ***** *** **** **** *******: I *** ** **** **** ********* AI, *** ** ******* ** ***.
*****://*******.******.***/*-***-**-****-****-*********-**-***-**-*******-**-***-************?******=***----************---*
Gizmodo: ****** **** *********** **** ********* ** **** *** * *** ** **** ** *** *** *****.
***:******** ***** ******* ********* ** ****** code – **********, *****:
****** *******, ***** ******** ******* ** Dubai-based ************* **** **********, ***** *** repository ******* *********’* ****** ****. ******** the ********** *** ********* **** * password, * ************* ******* ******* ****** to ******** ** * *** **** to *** ** ** *** ****** storing *** ****.
*** ********** ********* *********’* ****** ****, which ***** ** **** ** ******* and *** *** **** **** *******. The ********** **** ****** **** ** the *******’* ****** **** *** ***********, which ******* ****** ** *********’* ***** storage *******. ****** ***** *******, ********* stored ****** ** *** ******** *******, Mac *** ******* ****, ** **** as *** *** ***, ***** ************* ********** ********* *** *****. *** ******* buckets **** ********* *****, ***-******* ********* app ******** **** *** ********* **** for *******, ******* ****.
*** ********** **** ******* *********’* ***** tokens, ********* ** *******, *****, ** used, ***** **** ******* ********-**** ****** to *** *******’* ******* ******** *** communications.
** *** **** **** ******** ** most ** "******* **** **** ** found **** **,*** ****** ** *** of *********’* ***** ******* *******, ***** from * ****** ********* ** ****-****** in *** ***** ** * *********** building. *** ****** **** ********* ******** and ******* *** ********." ****'* ***-**** say **** ********* ******* ***** **** doesn't ****** ** * ***? **** the *********/******** ***** ******** ******* ** participate ** **** ********** *** **** their ******** ******** ******** ** *** company?
*** ****: ******* ******* ************* ****** recognition ******* ** *** ** ********** | *******.******* ******* ************* ****** *********** ******* on *** ** ********** | *******
** **** **** ** *** ** laugh *** *****. ********* ** ** about **:** ** *** *** ***** show ** ********** *****.
*** **** ****** ** **** *** this ******* ** ****** ** *** of *** **** ***** ****** ****** incubator ******** ********* ** **** ************ regions?