Clearview AI stops providing biometrics service in Canada, privacy investigation still open

Clearview AI’s biometric facial recognition technology will no longer be available in Canada, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada announced.

In February, Canada’s Privacy Commissioner alongside privacy authorities in Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec started an investigation into the company’s practices. Although the investigation is still open, Clearview AI will stop providing its services in Canada and will end its partnership with the RCMP. When finalized, the conclusions of the investigation will be shared with the public.

In June, Clearview AI agreed to delete some of the data collected through an opt-out system, yet said this feature would not be available for Canadians.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada will also investigate the use of Clearview AI’s biometric technology by the RCMP.

Due to the ongoing investigation, no other details have been made public.

According to a Clearview AI employee who spoke with a U.S. police department in March, the company’s goal was to integrate every U.S. mugshot from the past 15 years for law enforcement to run searches against it.

At the time, Clearview AI’s client list included U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Justice, government agencies in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and other countries, and retailers including Best Buy, Walmart and Macy’s, as well as law enforcement around the world, including the FBI, CBP, Interpol and hundreds of local police departments.

Article Topics

biometric database  |  biometric identification  |  biometrics  |  Canada  |  Clearview AI  |  facial recognition  |  police  |  privacy