Not JUST Faces in the Crowd: Facial Recognition and Clearview AI

Has facial recognition gone too far?

This very informative video features a lengthy discussion with Clearview AI app founder and CEO Hoan Ton-That about his specialty: facial recognition on social media. CNN Business’ Donie O’Sullivan sits down with the founder and CEO Hoan Ton-That to discuss concerns regarding legality, privacy, and bias in the era of facial recognition.

(Image is a screen shot of New Jersey’s Attorney General discussing his policy. The entire video is less than 7 minutes and well worth a view imho.)

The company claims to have scraped more than 3 billion photos from the internet, including from popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Not only that, but Clearview retains those photos in its database even after users delete them from the platforms or make their accounts private.

CNN also interviews New Jersey’s Attorney General Gurbir Singh Grewal (screenshot from video, below) about where NJ’s law enforcement officials stand on the issue of privacy versus public safety, especially with respect to facial recognition database holdings.

The discussion triggers fears about facial recognition — and the dystopian future it might foreshadow.

https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2020/02/10/clearview-ai-facial-recognition-orig.cnn-businessSource: CNN Business

First came a front-page investigation in The New York Times, revealing Clearview has been working with law enforcement agencies to match photos of unknown faces to people’s online images. Next, cease-and-desist letters rolled in from tech giants Twitter, Google and Facebook. Lawmakers made inquiries and New Jersey enacted a statewide ban on law enforcement using Clearview while it looks into the software.

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He demonstrated the technology and described himself as “honored” to kick off a broader conversation about facial recognition and privacy. He’s eager to build a “great American company” with “the best of intentions” and wouldn’t sell his product to Iran, Russia or China, he said. He claimed the technology is saving kids and solving crimes. And he said he welcomes government regulation.

But so far, Ton-That and Clearview have triggered more concerns than acclaim.

Despite the backlash to his technology, Hoan Ton-That, the CEO of Clearview AI, told CNN Business he feels "honored" to kick off a broader conversation about facial recognition and privacy. (Niamh McDonnell / CNN)

Despite the backlash to his technology, Hoan Ton-That, the CEO of Clearview AI, told CNN Business he feels “honored” to kick off a broader conversation about facial recognition and privacy. (Niamh McDonnell / CNN)

Clearview AI is controversial for many reasons, but perhaps the most important is its massive database. The company claims to have scraped more than 3 billion photos from the internet, including from popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Not only that, but Clearview retains those photos in its database even after users delete them from the platforms or make their accounts private.

Clearview sells access to its database to law enforcement agencies, so those agencies can match unknown faces to other images.

CNN Business saw firsthand how the technology works in a demonstration last week.

First, Ton-That ran a photo of my face though the database, pulling up in seconds multiple different pictures of me from across the internet.

Most jarringly, he found a photo that I had probably not seen in more than a decade, a picture that ran in a local newspaper in Ireland when I was 15-years-old and in high school. Needless to say, I look a lot different now than I did then; in fact, my producer, who has to spend far more time than she’d like looking at me through a camera, didn’t even recognize me. But the system did.

Clearview has given similar demonstrations to law enforcement, and some have been convinced to hand over taxpayers’ dollars for the tool. The Chicago Police Department, for instance, is paying almost $50,000 for a two-year Clearview “pilot,” a police spokesperson confirmed to CNN Business.

Within seconds, Clearview pulled up an old photo of CNN Business' Donie O'Sullivan, from when he was 15 years old. CNN has blurred faces in this photo to protect people's privacy. (Niamh McDonnell / CNN)

Within seconds, Clearview pulled up an old photo of CNN Business’ Donie O’Sullivan, from when he was 15 years old. CNN has blurred faces in this photo to protect people’s privacy. (Niamh McDonnell / CNN)

Additional AI and facial recognition links at

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/10/tech/clearview-ai-ceo-hoan-ton-that/index.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab

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37 Comments

CharlieWiskey

February 12, 2020 1:48 pm

Does everyone still feel safe from the social medias form of RAPE? Are you still thinking that they won’t use this to control, manage and enslave you? If you do, then I suggest you are delusional.

M G

CharlieWiskey

February 13, 2020 5:05 am

You get it too, don’t you Charlie?

5G means instant recognition almost anywhere, anyplace and anytime.

grace country pastor

M G

February 13, 2020 9:44 am

Artificial omnipotence.

M G

grace country pastor

February 13, 2020 11:18 am

That is a wonderful term to promote our new enterprise, preacher man!

Quick, come up with the articles for the LLC and we’ll patent the idea before anyone writes the code to make it happen.

Artificial Omniscience, Omnipresence & Omnipotence, Inc., or as it will be known on the Ticker during IPO?
“AtripO”
A3O

So, we will need a Supernatural Software Engineer. And a Godlike Geneticist. And an Almighty Algorithm Author.

And, if you didn’t notice the serious symbolism I planted in the Alpha Triumvirate Omega, well you can’t miss it NOW, can you?

An Evening at Improv 1992

February 12, 2020 1:51 pm

I wonder if Clearvision could ID this guy? Anyone here know him?

TampaRed

An Evening at Improv 1992

February 12, 2020 2:26 pm

a young tom cruise?but he doesn’t look as smart or religious as tom cruise–

Anonymous

TampaRed

February 12, 2020 2:39 pm

Well, he was introduced as a former Army sniper… maybe his name was Moran? I just wondered if Clearview or anyone could ID him.

M G

Anonymous

February 13, 2020 5:06 am

I still don’t know if it IS Hardscramble, but it is a funny dude named Mar(k) Moran.

M G

An Evening at Improv 1992

February 12, 2020 3:55 pm

Is this HSF 30 years ago? I don’t know; he showed us a clip once but that was a long time ago.

Mr. Thistle? Am lighting a dark candle. You’ll have to check back on this post to see what I have to say about it.

M G

February 13, 2020 5:20 pm

I like the tension between Jumas and Tartar (I know, but you gotta know how I am about names).

Am thinking a bond will form… an important one. Like the wizard shrouded in mystery. Do not like viewpoint switches, but that’s just me.

So far, I haven’t turned to the last chapter to see what happens.

TampaRed

February 12, 2020 2:29 pm

mg,
i’m glad you posted that,i read about that a few weeks ago & it is creepy–
i have a coupe that i’m going to add to it–
cops have a system that allows them to identify people by what they’re wearing–

https://www.blacklistednews.com/article/76187/brief-cam-allows-police-to-identify-people-by-what-they-are-wearing-and.html

M G

TampaRed

February 12, 2020 2:45 pm

HOLY CRAP!

(start at 15:00)

In the span of two years, law enforcement’s ability to identify the public using BriefCam has gone from disturbing to frightening.

A recent article in Twin Cities Pioneer Press revealed how the St. Paul Police Department uses Briefcam’s to identify people, cars, and physical objects.

“If they’re looking for a blue car or a man wearing a white shirt, for example, algorithms can pinpoint when those objects appear in videos from particular locations and times.”

Law enforcement uses BriefCam to look for more than just a single blue car or a single person wearing a white shirt, it will identify every blue car and person wearing a white shirt.

“If, for example, police are told a suspect was a male wearing a hat and backpack at a particular intersection, technicians can enter the terms “hat” and “backpack” to search CCTV videos for people with those objects.”

credit: Twin Cities Pioneer Press

Police are using Briefcam to identify people by the type of sneakers, shoes and handbags people are wearing or carrying.

But to do that, law enforcement uses BriefCam to surveil everyone, regardless of guilt or innocence.

Briefcam boasts that they use 27 classes and attributes to identify people in unimaginable new ways.

“Quickly search and filter objects and events of interest by men, women, children, vehicles, and lighting changes with speed and precision, using 27 classes and attributes, in addition to face recognition, appearance similarity, color, size, speed, path, direction, and dwell time, providing an ever increasing and powerful set of distinct search combinations.

If you think that police tracking people based on 27 classes and attributes is frightening, then wait a couple of years until BriefCam expands to 50 or more ways.

Briefcam’s “Video Content Analytics Technology” also allows police to use multiple CCTV cameras to pinpoint people on bicycles or inside vehicles or by specific objects they are carrying.

“Advanced multi-camera search powerfully identifies men, women, children and vehicles of interest with speed and precision, using face recognition, appearance similarity, apparel, color, size, speed, path, direction, dwell time and illumination change filters.”

What does this mean for everyone’s privacy?

Police now have the ability to identify a person who is trying to hide their identity from them by using a mask, umbrella, hat or sunglasses. Would anyone like to bet that one of BriefCam’s 27 identifiable attributes also includes necklaces, earrings, piercings or rings?

TampaRed

February 12, 2020 2:31 pm

here’s one that allows video doorbells to create a neighborhood license plate reader–

https://www.blacklistednews.com/article/76157/rekor-systems-uses-video-doorbells-to-create-neighborhood-license-plate-reader.html

Anonymous

TampaRed

February 12, 2020 2:47 pm

I’d heard about this… how long before these things are so embedded in our lives they can’t be removed.

CharlieWiskey

Anonymous

February 12, 2020 3:17 pm

Most of this already is embedded in our daily lives. The only way to limit it for the moment is to not have any wires or digital connections to the outside world and a barter system of existence. In reality how many of us can live this way? Honestly?

M G

CharlieWiskey

February 12, 2020 3:38 pm

You are so right, CW. My husband and I relocated to the Ozarks several years ago and, for the most part, are in a sustainable situation here in the community. Good relationships and trust with neighbors who respect our boundaries and property lines.

However, the digital invasion cannot be avoided, even here. Whatever new appliance or electronic device you purchase probably has a little chip to help locate it during the delivery process. And that passive little signalling device is still there.

M G

February 13, 2020 11:26 am

Seriously, my husband bought a new thermostat for the downstairs (he complained he couldn’t read the digital readout.) It has SMART technology and IF we had a SMART meter (fortunately, I know an electrician who could set us up without one, at least for now), we would be all set for our electric usage to be monitored and commented on by some sort of power controlling power controller. (Sorry, I hadda)

So, the thing had to be reset before (tiny little instructions… he thought he couldn’t read the old thermostat!) it would quit trying to connect to our power company’s meter.

Brian Reilly

Anonymous

February 12, 2020 4:40 pm

10 years ago. Join the party, homes.

Anonymous

February 12, 2020 2:52 pm

This is such a huge 4th amendment issue, that it requires additional legislation, to basically protect companies from making coin, off you image, without your consent. Forget about LEO or .gov

I can tell you right now, we work in the ID industry, and it is rapidly moving toward facial rec.
we can buy a simple library/app for $400, that will take any image we provide (like, from a web cam) and then compare it against another Database (owned by the folks who sell the $400 library/app) to provide additional info, like name/address, etc. usually the data is obtained from the states DMV. (yes, they sell you personal info for $$)

in the US, if there is detected credit card fraud, they might call you up and ask a bunch of questions about your grade school friends, or your mothers maiden name, they see this as a hassle, as it takes 15 minutes plus a human to verify.

In China, if they detect fraud, they have you open your smart phone, take a few pictures of you face (profile/front) and the open you mouth and repeat. They use facial and dental records to confirm ID using AI.

this is the NWO, it is already here.

PS every time you use your credit card, a camera is taking you picture, and is provided as part of the system, that is why you don’t need to sign for the smaller transactions anymore.

M G

Anonymous

February 12, 2020 3:15 pm

Exactly. This is why my son tells me the Event Horizon is just ahead, with what he envisions as the Singularity just beyond that.

Think about something else, Anonymuster, the Attorney General of New Jersey has an unpronounceable name and was in business attire with a nice turban. A turban

The Founder and CEO of the “application” which can go out onto the internet and round up probably thousands of photos of me and my rabbits in milliseconds, well that guy is maybe 25 years old.

These are the people determining whether we have anything to worry about.

The two links TampaRed brought here were just as disturbing. I expanded the one, above. Here’s the other. Your doorbell may have a little camera to record license plates of passers-by. Or their faces!

People need to get a grasp on what all these passive receivers and transmitters going up to facilitate 5G really means. It ain’t just another “G.”

https://www.blacklistednews.com/article/76157/rekor-systems-uses-video-doorbells-to-create-neighborhood-license-plate-reader.html

TN Patriot

M G

February 12, 2020 3:40 pm

My son-in-law is so proud of all the “smart home” devices he has installed. Little does he know how much info is being generated and placed into his “profile” by those he did not know had access to the information.

M G

TN Patriot

February 12, 2020 3:47 pm

Remember this?

TampaRed

TN Patriot

February 12, 2020 4:31 pm

at least one manu of smart vacuum cleaners has the machine mapping the interior of your house–
so you didn’t tell the local govt about the addition on the back of the house so you would not increase your tax bill,the cops go on a raid & already know the layout of the house,etc.–

TampaRed

M G

February 12, 2020 4:27 pm

these things are actually “mild” compared to what is being talked about,possibly even in limited use–
i can’t remember where i saw the article but not long ago i read about an ai camera that can identify you even if you are attempting to camo yourself w/glasses,caps,scarves,bulky clothing,etc.–it only needs a tiny amount of the “real” you to compare to what’s in the database & they’ve got you–
the military is coming up w/a system that can identify YOU behind the walls of a house–not just that there is a person inside,but also who is inside–

TN Patriot

February 12, 2020 3:32 pm

Any expectation of privacy you have disappeared a long time ago.

TampaRed

February 12, 2020 6:47 pm

this was on the natural news site today,more about data being collected by smart products & how to get out of it–

https://www.naturalnews.com/2020-02-12-personal-data-collection-done-by-smart-products.html

M G

TampaRed

February 13, 2020 11:30 am

Listen, if you just purchase ONE smart item (see my thermostat comment above) and put it in each room. A new television. There’s one room.

New programmable coffee maker. There’s the kitchen, but I bet there are a lot of really neat new gadgets in the kitchen recording your likes, dislikes and every movement sometimes and in some cases.
Well, your bedroom is definitely covered since you take your phone to the room in case of emergency, but you probably have some sort of smart device in there always, don’t you?

You get the idea. We have already let the enemy in. We paid a lot of money to bring the enemy in.

In the end, we will have paid everything and gotten nothing.

TampaRed

February 12, 2020 7:59 pm

today’s mercola.com site has an article about this garbage also & it’s the scariest one of all,all about google’s tracking–those of you who think you’re google free,you’re probably not–

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2020/02/12/google-social-credit-system.aspx?cid_source=dnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art1HL&cid=20200212Z1&et_cid=DM455650&et_rid=809177974

M G

TampaRed

February 13, 2020 11:44 am

I am watching that now, TR… am trying how to condense a bit for presenting…

I’ve downloaded the pdf of the interview but it is 35 pages. Any ideas on what to focus on?

TampaRed

M G

February 13, 2020 8:52 pm

mg,
truthfully,i did not download it,i just read what was in the summarized article so if you’re asking what content to read i can’t help you–
if however you’re asking me what to focus on in the article i hope you’re about to write,i have some ideas–
#1–govt at any level should not be allowed to sell or give away your info–
#2–govt should not be allowed to buy info about people,all we’re doing is having big private snoop do the work of big govt–
#3–there should be full,authorized disclosure of all info being collected by both private & public entities,w/the option to opt out later & all data would have to be deleted–
unfortunately,i’m not sure that in the present year the majority of people care about their privacy–

TampaRed

February 12, 2020 8:45 pm

this isn’t about facial recognition but it’s as bad or worse–
hospitals are using a secret credit score to determine how & who will receive certain medical care–

https://www.investmentwatchblog.com/hospitals-use-experians-secret-credit-scores-to-determine-who-will-receive-medical-care/

M G

TampaRed

February 12, 2020 9:17 pm

Smart Technology doesn’t seem so smart to me now.

M G

February 13, 2020 5:04 am

I really wish I’d figured out how to link the video directly. This demonstration of Facial Recognition software is something people need to grasp.

TR gets it…

Anonymous

February 13, 2020 6:45 am

Right now in the West, we’re scared to death of speech. The fact that a presidential candidate for a major U.S. political party could run on a platform of curbing speech in order to “save democracy” shows just how bad things are.

right to privacy and right to speak are related concepts

Tony Orlando and Dawn of the Apocalypse (EC)

February 13, 2020 11:33 am

They laughed when I suggested there would be a Wuhanization of US cities. Who’s laughing now, bitchez?

https://www.zerohedge.com/health/us-military-initiates-global-campaign-plan-pandemic

M G

Tony Orlando and Dawn of the Apocalypse (EC)

February 13, 2020 3:08 pm

It seems kind of surreal to me here in flyover world, isolated as we are from real civilization for as long as we choose, I’m guessing we could hold out for weeks or even months without power or information from “beyond” our little community. That would be vital; tightening and guarding our community.

Other than that, I’m all Wang Chunged and Weady, Wabbit. It’s Duck Season.