CLEARVIEW AI

[Willy]

Facial recognition has been around for a while but the company Clearview AI has taken it to another level. The creator of the the company also created a new software that will almost eliminate our personal privacy.

Before Clearview AI became the target of public scrutiny earlier this year, the facial recognition app was used freely by the company's investors, clients and friends, according to a report Thursday from The New York Times. The app was reportedly demonstrated at events like parties, business gatherings and even on dates. 

Clearview identifies people by comparing photos to a database of images scraped from social media and other sites. It came under fire after a New York Times investigation in January. Since then, Sen. Edward Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, has called Clearview a "chilling" privacy risk. In addition, Google, YouTube, Microsoft and Twitter have sent cease-and-desist letters to Clearview. The company also faces multiple lawsuits.

"As part of the ordinary course of due diligence, we provided trial accounts to potential and current investors, and other strategic partners, so they could test the technology," Hoan Ton-That, Clearview's CEO, said Thursday in an emailed statement. 

The Times also said it's identified "multiple individuals with active access to Clearview's technology" who aren't members of law enforcement. In January, Clearview said its search engine is available only to law enforcement agencies and select security professionals as a tool to aid investigations. 

In addition to law enforcement agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI using the software, BuzzFeed News last month reported that the app has been used by people working at Macy's, Walmart and other re.... 

First published on March 5, 2020 8:17 AM PST.

Clear view lured investors by letting them use the software

Security

Until recently, Hoan Ton-That’s greatest hit was an app that let people put Donald Trump’s distinctive yellow hair on their own photos.

Then Ton-That did something momentous: He invented a tool that could end your ability to walk down the street anonymously and provided it to hundreds of law enforcement agencies.

His tiny company, Clearview AI, devised a groundbreaking facial recognition app. You take a picture of a person, upload it and get to see public photos of that person  ..

Read more at:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/clearview-ai-the...

[Willy]

Did anyone wonder why Walmart has installed those cameras on the checkout machines? This is just another reason why I don't use Walmart.

[Freedom Seeker]

Wow! That's a frightening thought for our privacy, but the way the world is going. Just have to assume that everything in public can be on camera, between cell phones, and surveillance. But that's also probably how Walmart catches those who don't ring up stuff right through self-checkout.

[Willy]

Not only does this new technology find your images but it also connects to your use of web sites and everything else you have done on the internet. If you have noticed Walmart's cameras are focused on peoples faces not their carts. They have also  been implicated in this surveillance scheme. What's really frightening is that the younger generations have put themselves out there in a way no other group of people have done before. They are the first generation of the continuing"1984" saga.

[Freedom Seeker]

Very interesting. Thanks for the post Willy. A good reason to pay cash if one ever uses a self-checkout, beause I'm sure it could link your credit card to the transaction. I'm thinking about going out in public in disguise now with cash only! An interesting comment on this young generation and 1984, so hyped on selfies. It's just so far from the humility that was taught and was expected before Facebook. I know there are still elements in pockets out there of true greatness and humility, but mostly it seems many have to boast of all they do! And I think facebook has a lot to do with this "me, me" and "look at me some more" generation, "I'm the best."

[shinblind]

Another excuse as to why Big Government wants a cashless society. They wish to invade your privacy and make you a willing accomplice to their means of avoiding a Constitutional conflict. They say that it will help them root out the big illegal drug players but the drug lords already moved their wealth into cyber currencies and metals years ago. No, it is to control you by monitoring your activity and watching your behavior. To make it work Big Brother has to watch you. And by doing so you allow yourself to become a useful idiot.  

[Willy]

Good points Freedom Seeker and shinblind.