Evolv Violating FTC Rules, Refuses To Substantiate 10x Competitor Claim

William Howard-Waddingham and Conor Healy

•Published Sep 11, 2023 12:32 PM

Evolv is winning tens of millions of dollars in contracts from public schools grounded in quantitative competitive claims that it its products are "up to 10x faster" than metal detectors, flagrantly violating decades-old FTC regulations requiring advertisers to substantiate such claims.

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Evolv partner and investor Motorola quickly deleted the "10x faster" claim when IPVM questioned it. Evolv, on the other hand, has refused for months to substantiate its "10x faster" claim, responding to IPVM only with a vague statement about "documented throughput data" but without the sources or actual documentation to back it up.

Meanwhile, Evolv's performance problems have become an international issue, with the BBC investigating the company and numerous local school districts reporting very high false alarm rates that are often equal to or higher than conventional competitors.

Evolv's often-repeated "10x faster" claims are critical to sales since it charges 10x or more than its conventional competitors (Evolv's base price is $120,000 per unit for a minimum 4-year subscription, while its competitors generally charge under $10,000 for a one time purchase).

This is an unfair and deceptive competitive advantage, which, after months of asking Evolv to address, we are now publishing and reporting to the US FTC.

Evolv *,*** ******/**** *****

********* ** *****, *** ***** ******* detectors **** "*** ****** **** ***** detectors" ** ** ** *,*** ****** per ****, * ***** **** ******* widely ** *****'* *********. *** *******, in ****** ******:

IPVM Image

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

IPVM Image

**** *** ***** ****** ** *****'* dual-lane ******, * **** **** **** do *** *********** ********. **'* ********* nowhere ** ********** ******* ****** *****'* *******. ********* **** ** click *** ************** ** *** **** ** **** any ******* ** *** ****-**** ******. A ****-**** ******** ** *********** *** systems **** ** ****, ***** ***** be **** ****** ********** ** *** metal ********* **** ** ****. ***** does *** ****** **** **** *** 10x **********.

*****'* ****-**** ****** ***** ******* * throughput ** *,*** ****** *** **** under ***** **********. *****'***** ***************** ** ************ **, ********** * throughput ** *,*** ****** *** **** per **** ****** ******* ** * Columbus, **, ****** *****.

(***** ***** ******* *** ** *******, it ****** ** ***** **** ***** paid **** ******* ********** *** ****** with **** ** ***** ** ******* failures. ***:****'* ******** ****-***, *********** ******** *******.)

** *******, ********** *** ** **** lower, ************ ** *******. ***** *************** ** ***********,*******, *** ***** *******, *** ****** ***** *** ********. Schools **** ******** ********** **** **** false ****** -*** ********* **% ***** ***** **** **** without ******** *********** ** *******.

**** ***** ***** *** ** ** checked, ********* ** ***** ************* **** *****. ******* **** **** ***** ***** rates ******** * **** ****** ** staff *** ***** ** ******** **********. Schools **** ** **** ***** ******** staff ******* ******** *************** ** *** ***** ********.

*** **** ******, ****** *****, **** that "**** ****" ** *,***/** ******** at ***** **** *****, **** *** greeters (****** ****** ********) *** *** law *********** *******, *** *** *** state *** ****** ** ***** **** in *******.

10x ********** ** ***** ********

***** *** *** ******** ******** **** walk-through ***** ******** (****) ********** ** 10x ******, ***** ** ******* ********* for *** *********** ********* *****. ***** further ******* ** ******* ***** **** conditions ** ****** ***** ******* **** slowly (*.*., **** *-*** ******** ****** without, ** ******* ****** ** ********).

* **** ***** ************** **** *****'* ********** ********** ** unsubstantiated *** ***** ** ****** ***********. Evolv **** *** ******* ******** ** back *** **** ********** *******. **** researched ********** ***** *** ***** *** found **** ******** ********* **** ** scarce *** ****** ****** ********* ** the *************. (*.*., ****** ******** ****** airports **** ******** ********* *** ********* bags ** *****.)

**** ** *** *********** ********** *** throughput ******* ** *** ***** *** also ***** ** **********.

IPVM Image

***** ****** **** *********** ***** *** systems ** *** **** ** ****, remove ***** ****, ** ***** ***** pockets. *** **'* ****** ***** ***************, ***** ***** *****, ******* ***** alerts.**** ***** ** ******** ***** ** ******** ******* ** install ******** ***** ** ****** ********* the ******* ** ****** ******* "******** alarm *****" **** ***********. *** ***** is ******** - ********* ******** ** place "******** ***** *****" ** * belt ** ***** ******* ******** **** to **** *** ****** ***** ***** from **** ** *******.

*** ***** **** ****** **** ****** using ***** **** ** ****** ******* and ***** ********* *** ***** *** pockets. **** *** ** **** ** some ********, ***** **** *********** **** throughputs, *** **'* **** ****** ** the *********** ***** ***** ******* ********* operate (*.*., ** ******* *** ** sports ******).

*****'* *********** *** ****** *** ******* call **** ******** *** *********** ** its ******.

Evolv ** ****

**** *** ****** *** *********** ******** and ***** ***** *****, *****'* ********** is ********** ** ************ *****.

** ******** ** **** *********** ********* items **** ******,***** *** ********** *** *********** ********** **** ********** ****** *******. *******, higher *********** ***** ** ****** ***** alarm *****, ***** ******** **********. *** instance, ***** * ******* ******* * knife ******* ** ***** ******* *** stabbed * *********** *****, **, ***** ******* ********* *********** **** "E" ** "*." *** ***** ***** rate ****** **** **% ** **%.

*****'* *** *******, "*," ** **** more ********* **** "*." *** ********** ************* *** *** ******* **** ***** on "******* *****" **** *** "********* wouldn't **** ** **** ****" **** using ***** *************. *** "*" ******* also *** ** *" ******** ****, which ********* ****. ***** ********* **** the "*" ******* **** **** * 10% ***** ********** (*,*** ******/****) **** their ************. **** ********* **** *********** **** ** **** ************** **** *****'* ******* ******* **** like *****.

** *** ***** ****,**** ******* *** ********** **** ************ WTMDs **** **** *** ******* *** perform ********* ** ********* *** ****** ***** *********** ******** and ********* *****. ***** *********** ***** CEIA *** ******* ** ***** ** large ******* *** ******* *** *** alert ** ******* ***** **** **** and **** ******. *** ****** ** lower ***** ***** ***** *** ****** throughputs.

***** **** *****'******* ************ ** ******** ***** *** tables, *** ***** ******* ** ************ looking **** * **** - **** one **** ***** **** **** *** the ***** ** *** ************.

FTC ******** ******** *** ***** ******

*** ** ******* ***** ********** (***) requires **** ****** **** *****'* "*** faster" ** **** *** ***** ** evidence.

* ****** *** *********** **-******* ********, **** *****'*, ***** this *****:

**’* *** ******** *** *********** ** say **** **** ***-******* ********** ***** their ******* ****** – ******* ** justify * ****** ***** ** ********* labor *********.You **** ******** ***** *** **** **** ** *********** *****, too, and if **** ***** ** ********** ** ***, **** ***’* **** *** *****. [emphasis added]

** ********* ******** ** **** *********** "adequate *****" ***** *** **********. *** FTC ********* ***** ************* **** ** **** * "********** basis" *** ****** ********** ******. *** ****** **** *********** *** requirement ** **** **** *********** **** to **** ********, ** * ****** appropriate ** *** *******, ** ******* any ****** **** ** ***********. ***** *. **** **** ******* ******* LLC, *** ***** **** ****:

*** ** ********** ** **** *** a ‘********** *****' *** * **************, it **** **** *** ****recognizable ************** for the representation prior to making it in an advertisement... Where the advertisers lack adequate ************** ********, they necessarily lack any reasonable basis for their claims. [emphasis added]

***** *. ********************, ***., *** ***** ********** **** * precious ****** ******* ****** ******************** (***) did *** **** ********** ******** ** demonstrate **** ** ***** ******** ******* gold *** ****** ** ********* ******* advertising ** **** ******. ***********:

***lacked * ********** ***** for their advertisements' representations that goods would be delivered upon receipt of payment. In order to substantiate the representation that goods would be delivered to consumers, let alone in a timely manner, DGB ****** ** ** ** ********** ** *********** **** ********* ** ***** ******* ***** ******. [emphasis added]

*** ****** *** ***** **** ********* must **** *********** ******** *** ********** claims. **** *****'* *** *****, **** would ****** ****** ***** ****** **** demonstrating **** (*) **** *** ***** Express *** ****** *,*** ******/**** *** (ii) **** ** ******* **** ***** comparable ************* ******* ****** *** ******/****. While ***** *** ********* ******** *** (i) (****** ******** **** *** ** flawed *** *** ******** **************), **'* failed ** ******* *** ******** *** (ii), ******* ******** ******** ** ** so **** * ******.

*** ****** * "********** *****" *** an ********** ***** ** * ******* and ***** ****** ****** ***** *** law. *** *** ***** **** ************* information ******* * ********** ***** *********** an ****** ** ********* *** ** practice ***** ******* * ** *** FTC ***. *** *** *** *** power ** ***** *********** ***** ********* against ********* *** ** ***** **** to ***** *** ****** **** *********** unsubstantiated ***********.

** *** ******* ****,********* *. ****** ** *******, ***., *** *** ******** * $**.* million ******** ******* ****** ** ******* for ******** ******* ****** ******** **** its ***** ***** **** ******** **** they ******** ****. ** ***** ********* to ********* *** *** ***** ******* proper ********, ** ***** **** ***** penalties **** *** ***. ***** ********* could ** *********: ***** ** ******* an ****** *** ********* ********* **** its *** *********** ***** **** ***** justify *** **** ** *** ******* at **** *** *** **** ** conventional *********.

(*** **** ** ** ***** ****-**** system, ***** ***** **** *** *** 4,000 ******/**** **********, ** ****** ** 15x *** **** ** ************ *********.* ************ ******* ********* *** ***** County ****** ************ **** ** ***** ****-**** ****** costs $**,***/****, *********** ** $***,*** *** Evolv's ******* *-**** ************. ************ ********* charge ****** $**,*** *** * ***-**** purchase.).

** ********** ***** ** **** ***** regularly ***** ** ******* *** "*** faster" *** "*,*** ***/**" ******. ** noted *****, *** ******* - ******** or *** - ***** ** ****-**** systems. *****'* *********** *** **** ****** depending ** *** ************* *** *********** that *****'* ********* ******* **** *** address.

*****'* ******* ** ******* ***** ********** runs ***** ***** ************ **** *********** **** "***** and ***********" *********** ***** ***** ********. *** *** ** ***** **** advertisers **** **** ********* ** ******** and ******** ******* ** ********** ******, including *** ********** **********. ********** *********** ** ** ********* "** ***** as ******** ** *** ***** **** qualify."****'* **** **** *** *****, "*****-***********" advertisements.*** ********** **** *********** **** "******** ******** information ** *** *****-*********** ** ****** or ******* *** ************* ** *** website ** ***** ** *****."

***** ** ******* ************ *** ************. Its ************** ********** **** ** ******* of *** ** *** *******'* **********. As ** *******, *********-*********** ** **** *****'* *********** *** ******* **** *** ******* throughput ******* ***** ** * ****-**** system ** **** *** ******* *** vary ********* ** **********:

IPVM Image

*** **** ***'* ** ********* ** pour ******* *****'* ******* ** **** the **********. **'* ** ***** ** present **** ******* *** *************, ***** it's ****** ** **.

Hedging **** "** **" ** *** ** ******

****** ***, ***** **** **** *** ******* are "** ** *** ******" **** WTMDs, *** **** **** *** ****** 10x ******. ***** ********* ****** ********* dismiss **** ******, *** ********** *** such *** *** ***** *************.

***** ***** ************ ** *** ******** **** "**** ********* *** *** phrase '** **' ** ****** ***** their ********, **** ********* *** ****** to ******* **** **** **** ******* the ******* '** **' *******." ***********,*** *** ******** *********** "should ** **** ** ************ that consumers arelikely ** ******* *** ******* ******* ******** undernormal *************" [emphasis added]. Evolv has repeatedly failed to substantiate that the Express is likely to process 10x more people per hour than conventional systems under normal circumstances.

**** ** ********** **** *** ****** "up **" ******* *****'* ******** - which ** **** *** - *** company ********** *****'* *** **** ********* in *** ***********. ***** ******* ******* ****, *** ******* **** **** *** Express' ********** ** "******" *** ****** than *****. *******'* *******, ** ****** **** *** ******* is "** ***** ****** **** *********** metal *********":

IPVM Image

**** ****** ***** **** ******* ************** ***** ** ** ******* *** faster **** *****. ***** *** *** presented ******** ******** ** ******* ****.

Partner ******** ******* *** *****

***** ***** *** ******* **************, *** investor *** ******* ******** *******, ******** (Avigilon), ******* ******* *** *** ****** claim **** *** **** ** ***** when ********** ** ****.

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

IPVM Image

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

IPVM Image

Evolv ********

**** ***** *** *******, *****'* *** Dana **** **** ** **** *, 2023:

************** ******** *** *****’* ********** ******* documented ******* **** ******** ****-***** ******** operations ***** ***** ******* ****-**** ******* plus *** **** ********** *********** **** on ***** ******* ****-**** ******* ** related ** ********** ********** **** ** traditional ****.

**** ***** *** **** ******** *********** about *** ******* "********** ********** **** on *********** ****" **** ***** *****'* 10x **********, **. **** *********:

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

***** ****** ** ******-***, ***** ** of ********* ************** **** ******* **** on ****** **, ****:

** ***’* ** ********* * *******.

Consumer **************

****** ***, *************** ****** ***** ******** has * ******** ****** ** *********' buying *********. * ****** ***** ********* that *** *******'* ********** ** ***** the **** **** ** *** ****** that ** *** ****** *** **** people *** **** **** * ************ system.

********, *******, **************, *** ******** ***** rely ** *****'* ******* ** ******* and ********** ****** ****** ******** ******* and ******** ******. **** *** ***** failed ** * ******* **** ** prioritizing *** ****** **** **** ******** and ************* ***********.

*** *** ** ********** ***** **** advertisers **** ** **** ** ******* evidence *** ***** ******. ***** *** refused ** ** ** ******* ******** requests **** ***** ******. *** *** can *** ****** *********.

Update (**/**/**): While Evolv's marketing has been more ******** ******** **** *** ******* **************, ********* ******** ** *** *****'* unsubstantiated *** ****** *****. *** ********, on ***** **, ****, *** ****** Nuggets****** * ******* */******* ******* ***** "** **** your ********* *** ****** **** *********** metal *********."

Comments (19)

Undisclosed Integrator #1