Clearview AI Alarm - NY Times Report Says "Might End Privacy"

By: John Honovich, Published on Jan 20, 2020

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

**** *** *******, *** NY ***** ******** * report ****** "*** ********* ******* **** Might *** ******* ** We **** **" ***** * ******* named********* ***** ** ******* ****** recognition ** ****** ***********.

*** **** *************** ** that *** *******'* ****** recognition ***** ******* ******* against ******** ** ****** from "********, *******, ***** and ******** ** ***** websites".

*** ****** ******** ****** immediately ****** ***** *** widespread ************.

****** **** ****, ** examine:

**** ********* **'* "**********" is
********** ** ****** ******* service
**** ** *** **********
*** ***** ****** **** likely ****
*** **** ** ** powerful
******** ******** **** * police **********
*** ************* **** *******
******** ** **** **** a******* ******** ************ *** has **** *********
*** ******** *** **** this ******* *** *** ones ** **** ***

[***************]

Tech *** **********

** * ********** *****, there ** ** **** innovation ***** ******* ****. The **** ** ***** and *** ******* *** particular ******* ** *&*.

**'* ** ****** ******* where ***** *** ****** photos *** *** ******* back. *** ***, ** least, ** ** ******* to ***** *** ******* access **** * ***** and **** *** *** ongoing ******.

Innovation - ******** ******** ***.

*** ********** ** *********** pre-loading ******** ** ****** from *** ****** ********. With ********* *** ****** recognition ******* **** ** surveillance *****, ** ***** with ** '*********' ** 'database' ** *** **** is ***** **** ******** their ***, ***** ** difficult *** *********** *** most ** ***** ***** lists.

********* **'* ********, ********* to *** ** *****, is ** **** ****** websites, ** ** ******** of ********, **** *** paste *** *****, ********* a **** / ********* back ** ***** **** found ** ****, ********* it **** ********* **'* database.

** *** ** ********-******** example, **** ** ******* ***** ** ******** of *********'* ********* ** ISC **** ****:

*** *******, ** * Clearview ** **** ******** an ***** ** * Hikvision ********, ******* ******* who *** ****** ***, Clearview ** ***** *********** return * ***** ** this ***** *** **** link, ******* *** **** know *** ******'* **********, etc.

Russia ******* *******

**** *****, *** ******* a ******* ******** ** Russia, *****, *.*.,******'* ***** *********** ******* ***** **** look ******* ** *** one ** ********. ***** is ** ******* ******:

*** ****** ***********.******* ******** ******* ** with * ***** ******. It ******** ******* ****** stored ****, **** ******** *** for ******. *** *** video ************ ******* * Russian *** **** * video ****** ******** ** him, ********* *****:

******* *** *****, ******** *****, ******** interesting *******:

***********

*** ***** ******* *** Clearview ** ** **** such ******** ******** ****, if *** ****, ******** terms ** ********, ** the ** ***** *******:

********, *******, *******, ********* and **** *****. *************** of ***** ********* **** their ******** ******** **** scraping, *** ******* **** it********** ********* ** *** **** for ****** ***********....
*** ****** **** ********* is ******** ** ** that *** ******* ** unique. ****’* ******* ******** and ***** ****** ***** sites ******** ****** **** scraping *****’ ****** — Clearview ** ********* *** sites’ ***** ** *******.

********* ** *** **** operating **** **** ***** the *****, *.*., ** had ***** ***** ** them *** ***** *** NY ***** ******* *** investigation, ********* ** *** no *********** ** ***** website. ***,**** **** **** ***** information.

*** ** ***** ****** has ******* ***** ******** attention ** **** *******. We ***** ****** ****, especially ***** ******** ** under ******* ******** *** various ******* **********, **** and ***** ***** ******** would ****** ***** ****** against ********* **.

Powerful ********

*** ***** ***** **** having ******** ** ****** to *********** ***** *******. The ******* ** **** people ** **** **** many ****** ** ********** on ****** ***** ********. However, **** ******** *** surveillance ***** **** **** few ****** ********* ** search *******.

**** ***** ******** ******** solves ****, ****** **** doing ** ** ****** largely *******.

Police ********** ********

**** *** ***************************** ****** ******* **** NJ********* ***** ******* **** the ******** *** ***** paid.

************, ********* ** ** only ******** ~$*** *** user *** ***** (* users *** * **** - $*,***):

*** ****** ******** * long **** ** *********, starting **** **** ******* police ********** ****** ***** a **** *** ****:

**** *** **** *********** found * *****:

*** ****:

** **** **:

Confrontation *******

** **** ******** ** allowed, ** **** ******* create ****** ** ********* doing ****, ** ***** is ** ***** **** having **** * ******* watchlist ** ** ********** competitive *********.

*****, ** *** ***** hand, ** ** ****** largely *******.

**** **** ** **** Uber ***** * ******* can ***** *** *** but *** ****** ******* in *** *******? ** is ******** *** ** are ********* ** ********* AI ** * ***** company *** *** ******* to ********** ****** (****** Uber) ** *** ** non-existent.

Veteran ******** ************ *** *** **** *********

* ******* ******** ************ who *** **** ********* gave **** ********:

********* ** ****** **** but **** *** **** recognition, *** ******** ***** it **** ******** ** a **** *** *** wrong ****** ***** ******** are ************ *********. **** you *** * **** it ***** ***** * human ******* ** **** through *** ******** ****** and ****** ***** **** deserve ********** ****** **. And *** "*****" **** is **** **** **% at ****.

*** ***** ******* ** obviously *********, ***, ** date, **** ********* *** the ** ***** **** this *** **** **** to ****** *********** **** have ********* *** ***** on ***** **** *****.

*** ***** **** ****** alarm *** *** **** in *** ** ***** report **** ** ***** eventually ** **** ******:

****** ******** *** *********’* investors ******* **** *** app **** ********** ** available ** *** ******.

Use **** - *** ** **** ******? *** ** **** ****** ****?

***** * *** ** facial *********** ** **** for *** *** **** of "*** ** **** if **** ****** ** in **** *****", ********* AI ******** ** ****** the ********: "*** ** this ******?"

**** ** **** ****** to ****** ******* *** situation ** **** ******* has * ******* ** a ****** *** *** an ********. ** *** image **** ** * match ***** ******** ** the ******** *** ***** that, **** ** *** image ** ***** *** or **** *** ****. The **** ***** ****** wants ** ********* ** identity ** *** ******, which, ******* **** * database, *** ** ********* to **.

*******

********* ** ****** **** the ********* ******** *** risks ** ****** ***********. How **** ** ******** will **** * *********** impact ** *****-*******, *** surveillance ********, *** ****** privacy.

Comments (30)

Jeremy Ellis

01/20/20 03:43pm

*** **** ****** ** find *** **** ******* is ****** ** *** of *** **** ***** letter ****** ********* ******** prevalent ** **** ************ regions?

Samuel Edwards

01/20/20 05:40pm

Exercise **** **** ******* ******.

******** ** ******** **** protection ****** *** ** submitted **** *********-********@*********.**. (*** ***** *** further ************)
***** ****** *** ******* to *********** **** **** by ************. ** **** honor **** ********, ********** or ********* ** ******** under ********** **** ********** rules *** ***** ****** are *** ********: **** do *** ****** ***** and ********** *** ** engaged. ********* **** ******* that ******* ********** *** sharing ** ******** ** their ******** **** ******* us **** *********** ** verify ***** ******** *** to ********** *** ********** of **** ********. ***** most ** **** *********** is ******* ***** *** completion ** *** *******, Clearview ** ******** ** retain **** ** **** information ** ******** * record ** **** ****** requests. ** ** ** not ****** **** **** request, ** **** ******* why.
** *** ***** **** to *** * ******** about *** ******* ****** or ******** **** **** privacy ****** ****** ******* us **:*******-********@*********.**. **** ******* **** connect *** ** *** Data ********** *******. ****** submit ****, * ******** and * ***** ** a **********-****** ** ** facilitate *** ********** ** your *******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to Samuel Edwards | 01/20/20 05:44pm

**** ******* ** ** FB’s ******* ** ****** revenge ****:

**** **** ***** 🤫

Undisclosed End User #2

01/21/20 05:50pm

"**** ***** ******** ******** solves ****, ****** **** doing ** ** ****** largely *******." * ***** like ** **** *** is **** ******* ** U.S.? ******* ** ** with ******* ** ****? Perhaps ** ** **** GDPR+ **** ***?

******* **** ** * question *** * ******. Has *** ******** ** terms *** ********* ****** in ******?

*** ****** *** ** con *** * ** curious ******* ***** ** so **** ******** ***** on.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #2 | 01/21/20 05:57pm

******* **** ** * question *** * ******. Has *** ******** ** terms *** ********* ****** in ******?

*** * ****** *** do * **** **** about **** ****. ************, ***. *. ***** Ventures, ***. ********* ** ** ********.

** * ****** *****, if *** ***** ****** to ***** ********, ********, Twitter, ***. *** **** re-sell *** *******, **'* going ** ***** * lot ** ********, ** I ** ********* **** this ** ***** ** be *******.

*** *** ***** **** that ** *** **** has **** **** ********* that ********* **** ***** counsel **** ******* **** is *** * ******* tactic.

**** ****, * ***'* know, ***** ********* ** 'wins' **** *** ******* expectations ** **** *** be *******.

Undisclosed End User #2

In reply to John Honovich | 01/21/20 11:25pm

***** ** **** **** newsletter **** * ** subscribed **. * *** just ******* ** ***** answers ** ******** *****.

****’* *** ***** **** robots.txt: ** ****** ** good-faith ******. ****, ******** can *** **** ********* technical ******** ** *** and ***** ******** ********, but **** **** *** most ** *** ** is ***** *** ********* IPs. ********, ******** **** not **** *** **** of ***** ********, ****** to * *** ******* Court ******** **** **** year *********** ****, ***. *. LinkedIn ****.. **** *** ********:

***** ********* ****, *** scrapes *********** **** ******** users **** ******** ** public ******** ********. ******** sent *** * *****-***-****** letter, ********* **** *** stop ********* *** ******* data **** ********’* ******. HiQ ***** ****, ******* injunctive ****** ***** ** California *** *** * declaratory ******** **** ******** could *** ******** ****** the ******** ***** *** Abuse *** (“****”), *** Digital ********** ********* ***, California ***** **** § 502(c), ** *** ****** law ** ******** ******* it.
********* *** ******** *****’* grant ** *** *********** injunction ** ***** ** hiQ, *** ***** ********* that *** *********** * likelihood ** *********** **** because *** ******** ** its ******** *** **********. The ***** **** **** the ******** ***** *** not ***** *** ********** in ********* *** ******** and ********** ****, **** if **** ******** ***** retain **** ******* ********* in ***** *********** *************** their ******** ** **** their ******** ******, ***** interests *** *** ******** hiQ’s ******** ** ********** its ********. ****, *** balance ** ********* ****** decidedly ** ***** ** hiQ.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #2 | 01/22/20 02:09am

* *** **** ******* it ***** ******* ** question *****....
********, ******** ****not **** *** **** ** ***** ******** thanks to a 9th Circuit Court decision [emphasis added]

**** ** * ******** and ********* ******************* **** *** ******** of ***********.

*****, **'* *** * final ********. **'* ************ **********, ** ***** ******* by * ***** ***** to * ***** ************* of *** ****** ** a ***** ****.

**** *******'* *********** ********** *******, *** ***** **** clear ***** ***** **** if **** *** *** given, **** ******* ******** was ***** ***** ** out ** ******** *********** before *** ***** ***** even ** *********:

*** ***** **** **** the ******** ***** *** not ***** *** ********** in ********* *** ******** and ********** ****, **** if **** ******** ***** retain **** ******* ********* in ***** *********** *************** their ******** ** **** their ******** ******, ***** interests *** *** ******** hiQ’s ******** ** ********** its ********.

***** **** ******* (***) wins *** ** ******** the ******* ******* *** other ***** ********** **** could ** ******* *** declaring **** "******** **** not **** *** **** of ***** ********" ** irresponsible *** ********* *****.

Drew Weston

01/22/20 01:37pm

** **** ** *** other ******** ********** ***** out, ***** ********* ** way ****** ************* ************. We're ** *** **** west ** ***** ************ and * ***'* *** any ******* ***** ** which *** *** ******** will ********** ****, ******* vs. ******** *** *** form ** *********** ****** to ***** ***** *** conditions.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

01/22/20 06:32pm

** * ******* ** collecting ***** ********* ***** on *** *** **** allowing *** ***** ** sift ******* **** ** will * **** ** believe ***** ** * case ** ** **** this ******** *** *** Amendment. ********** ** **** take ** ** *** next *****, ***** *** NYT ***** ** ***** is ** *** **** map:

*** ******** **** ********** its ***, ******** ** The *** **** *****, includes *********** ******** ** pair ** **** *********-******* glasses; ***** ***** *********** be **** ** ******** every ****** **** ***.

John Honovich

IPVM | 01/24/20 06:08am

******:******** - ********* ** Says *** ****** *********** Software ********** * ********* Suspect. *** **** *** That's *** ****.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to John Honovich | 01/24/20 09:52am

*** *******'* **** ** extremists *** *********

Undisclosed #5

01/24/20 08:54pm

**** ******* *******.

****** ****** ***********: ************ police ********* *** ********** of ******* - *** Verge

Gerald Becker

01/28/20 01:49am

******:
*** ****** **** **** to **** *** *** of ************* ******-*********** ********** - **.***

John Honovich

IPVM | 02/05/20 01:29am

*********'* *** ** ** CBS **** ******* ******** (i.e., *********) *** ********* use ** ****** ***** scraping ***** ** ***** Amendment:

*********: *** ******* ** a ****** *********** ******* described ** **** “**************” and “* *********” ** speaking ***.

********* **@**************, ********* ** *** Hoan ***-**** ***** **@***************** *** ************* ******** in *** ***** ** interview.***.*******.***/**********
— *** **** ******* (@CBSThisMorning)******** *, ****

** ** *********** **** Clearview *** ********* **** little ******** ** *** industry *** ********* ** be * ***** ********** media *****.

John Honovich

IPVM | 02/05/20 06:48pm

******:********* ** *** **** cease-and-desist **** ****** **** facial *********** ********** - CNET

Blaine D'Amico

02/27/20 11:16am

** **** *** **** a ****** ** ****.

*****://***.*************.***/*********-**-******-***********-*******-****-*****-****-***-***********-****-******-******-****-***-******?******=****&***=***

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Blaine D'Amico | 02/27/20 03:30pm

********* ** ***** ******:

"******** ** *********'* *** priority. *************, **** ******** are **** ** **** in *** **** *******."

**** ******** *** **** of **** ***...

Blaine D'Amico

02/27/20 03:53pm

* *** **** *****, those *** *** ********** are **********. ********* *** your ******* *** ******* to ** ******. ***** say "****'* ****".

Blaine D'Amico

02/28/20 03:29am

********* **'* ****** *********** Tech ** ***** **** By *** ******* **********, ICE, *** *** ***

Blaine D'Amico

02/29/20 06:10pm

***: ***** ******** ************* facial *********** *** ********* AI **** *** ********* program.
***** ********* ********* ** from *** ********* ******* for ********* ******** - CNN

Undisclosed End User #6

02/29/20 06:22pm

*'** **** ******** ***** this ***** ******* **** Clearview ** **** **** publicly ********* ******. * NEVER **** ****** ** myself ** ********. **** my ******* ***** ** of ** **** *********** Fuller. *******, ****** **** posted ****** ** ** and ****** **. * have ***** ** ********** for ***** ****** ** be *** ** ********. If ********* ** *** scraped ***** ****** **** their ** ** ** most ********** *** **** my ******** ********** *** alone *** ******** **********. If ***** ******** ** legally ******, ***** ****** could *******, **** *** tag ****** ** ** scraped **** ********* ** DB **** ** ********.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

03/02/20 08:46pm

********* ** ********** ***** cameras **** *** ****** recognition ***** **

Insight

****** *********** ******* ********* AI *** **** ************* With ******** *******

Undisclosed End User #6

03/06/20 06:24am

*** *** **** *****: Before ********* ****** * Police ****, ** *** a ****** ********* ** the ****.
****** ********* ****** * Police ****, ** *** a ****** ********* ** the **** - *** New **** *****

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #6 | 03/06/20 11:18am

****** *** *******. *****!

**** ************, *** *********** owner ** *** ********* grocery ***** *****, *** having ****** ** ********, an ******* ******* ********** in *********’* **** ************, when *** ********, ******, walked **. *** *** on * **** **** a *** **. ************ didn’t *********. ***** *** couple *** **** ** another *****, **. ************ asked * ****** ** go **** *** **** a *****.
**. ************ **** ******** the ******* ** * facial *********** ***, ********* AI, ** *** *****. The *****-** ****** *** app *** * ******** of ******** ** ******, scraped **** ***** **** as ********, ******* *** LinkedIn. ****** *******, **. Catsimatidis *** ******* * collection ** ****** ** the ******* ***, ***** with *** *** ********* where **** ********: *** daughter’s **** *** * venture ********** **** *** Francisco....
*** *****, *******, *** identified ******** *********** **** active ****** ** *********’* technology *** *** *** law *********** *********. *** for **** **** * year ****** *** ******* became *** ******* ** public ********, *** *** had **** ****** **** in *** **** ** the *******’* *********, ******* and *******.

Undisclosed End User #6

03/24/20 11:50pm

**** ***** *** **** mill *******: * *** My **** **** ********* AI, *** ** ******* Me ***.
*****://*******.******.***/*-***-**-****-****-*********-**-***-**-*******-**-***-************?******=***----************---*

Undisclosed End User #6

04/09/20 07:56am

Gizmodo: ****** **** *********** **** ********* ** **** *** * *** ** **** ** *** *** *****.

John Honovich

IPVM | 04/19/20 12:25pm

***:******** ***** ******* ********* AI ****** **** – TechCrunch, *****:

****** *******, ***** ******** officer ** *****-***** ************* firm **********, ***** *** repository ******* *********’* ****** code. ******** *** ********** was ********* **** * password, * ************* ******* allowed ****** ** ******** as * *** **** to *** ** ** the ****** ******* *** code.
*** ********** ********* *********’* source ****, ***** ***** be **** ** ******* and *** *** **** from *******. *** ********** also ****** **** ** the *******’* ****** **** and ***********, ***** ******* access ** *********’* ***** storage *******. ****** ***** buckets, ********* ****** ****** of *** ******** *******, Mac *** ******* ****, as **** ** *** iOS ***, ***** ************* ********** ********* *** *****. The ******* ******* **** contained *****, ***-******* ********* app ******** **** *** typically **** *** *******, Hussein ****.
*** ********** **** ******* Clearview’s ***** ******, ********* to *******, *****, ** used, ***** **** ******* password-less ****** ** *** company’s ******* ******** *** communications.

Undisclosed End User #6

In reply to John Honovich | 04/19/20 08:00pm

** *** **** **** concerns ** **** ** "Hussein **** **** ** found **** **,*** ****** in *** ** *********’* cloud ******* *******, ***** from * ****** ********* at ****-****** ** *** lobby ** * *********** building. *** ****** **** residents ******** *** ******* the ********." ****'* ***-**** say **** ********* ******* video **** *****'* ****** in * ***? **** the *********/******** ***** ******** consent ** *********** ** this ********** *** **** their ******** ******** ******** by *** *******?

Donald Maye

05/08/20 12:18pm

******** ********* **** ********* will *** **** ******* data ** **********.

IPVM Image

John Honovich

IPVM | 05/28/20 06:33pm

*** **** *** *** sued *********.

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