January 25, 2020 – In Breaking News – NJ .com
The state attorney general is ordering all New Jersey police to stop using a powerful new facial-recognition technology that’s pulling millions of photos from social media.
The order was issued Friday to county prosecutors, concerning a New York-based company called Clearview AI.
“Like many people, I was troubled,” state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said about the company’s techniques, which were first reported by The New York Times.
Clearview promotes itself as an effective way to track down dangerous people.
It takes partial credit for the recent arrests in New Jersey of 19 men who police say tried to lure children for sex.
The company’s main promotional video even featured Grewal and two state troopers at an October press conference about that operation.
Grewal said it was “irresponsible” for the company to reveal investigative techniques, and his office sent Clearview a cease-and-desist letter Friday to stop using that footage.
Tor Ekeland, a Clearview lawyer, wrote in an email that they would take the video down, and it was no longer at the top of the company’s website Friday evening.
(Tech facial recognition Clearview AI artificial intelligence app. Courtesy of CBS Los Angeles and YouTube. Posted on Jan 24, 2020.)
Facial-recognition technology has long been used in the state.
The Motor Vehicle Commission began using one version almost a decade ago to hunt for fraud, and a state report credited the tool with hundreds of arrests.
But that effort relied on a government database. Clearview uses the “open web,” according to the company, which can mean photos pulled from your public social media accounts.
Clearview’s database adds millions of faces every day, according to an internal document.
An unknown number of New Jersey cops have used that database.
Clifton Lt. Robert Bracken said their department used a free trial, but had not purchased it.
“It’s just like any tool, it’s used to develop leads,” he said. “But those leads have to be vetted.”
State Police use a different version of the technology, while Newark has never used any facial recognition, according to a spokesperson.
Continue reading… New Jersey cops told to halt all use of controversial facial-recognition technology
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As posted on Clearview AI’ s website at time of posting, courtesy of Clearview.
Clearview Facts
Public information only.
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Clearview searches the open web.
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Clearview does not and cannot search any private or protected info, including in your private social media accounts.
Search, not surveillance.
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Clearview is an after-the-fact research tool.
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Clearview is not a surveillance system and is not built like one.
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For example, analysts upload images from crime scenes and compare them to publicly available images.
Stopping criminals.
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Clearview helps to identify child molesters, murderers, suspected terrorists, and other dangerous people quickly, accurately, and reliably to keep our families and communities safe.
Independently verified for accuracy.
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An independent panel of experts reviewed and certified Clearview for accuracy and reliability.
Full compliance with the law.
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Just like other research systems, Clearview results legally require follow-up investigation and confirmation.
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Clearview was designed and independently verified to comply with all federal, state, and local laws.
Protecting the innocent.
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Clearview helps to exonerate the innocent, identify victims of child sexual abuse and other crimes, and avoid eyewitness lineups that are prone to human error.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
