Clearview AI, one of the most controversial facial recognition companies in the world, developed an artificial intelligence prototype capable of gathering and analyzing a large amount of data about a person from their online presence. The technology allows collecting information from various sources on the internet and compiling a detailed profile of the individual.
The tool was presented as a potential resource for police forces, who could use it to investigate people by collecting publicly available data on the web. The system combines facial recognition techniques with the ability to search through social networks and other digital platforms.
Clearview AI had already attracted controversy previously for having built a huge database with billions of photographs collected from the internet without people's consent. The company was fined in several countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, for privacy violations.
Data protection experts expressed concern about the development of this technology, warning about the risks it represents for individual privacy. The ability to "dig up" a person's complete online life raises ethical and legal questions about the balance between security and fundamental rights.
