AI company scrapes 30 billion Facebook photos for facial recognition database used by law enforcement

Clearview AI, an AI company known for its controversial facial recognition technology, has reportedly scraped 30 billion Facebook photos to train its AI algorithm, according to CEO Hoan Ton-That in a recent interview with the BBC.

The algorithm, which has already been used by 3,100 US law enforcement agencies for nearly one million searches, has led to accusations that innocent people have been charged with crimes they didn't commit.

While Ton-That claims that Clearview AI's actions are legal and used for "after-the-crime investigations," experts and digital rights advocates have raised concerns about the violation of people's privacy and the need for regulation in police surveillance.

Facebook has sent Clearview at least one cease-and-desist, with a spokesperson for Meta stating that "Clearview AI's actions invade people's privacy."