Reports highlight that the largest crypto exchange, Coinbase is using Clearview’s controversial facial recognition technology. However, as part of the company, it was only for law enforcement purposes.
The exchange now counts among 2200 entities that are already working with Clearview. The key concern here is that this New York-based Clearview AI has previously faced legal allegations from Apple and Google. On the other side, ICE, the U.S. Attorney’s Officer for the Southern District of NY and Macy are some of its paid customers, other companies are testing Clearview’s technology for free by opting to the 30-day trial period.
Interestingly, Coinbase is one of several companies that are using Clearview’s technology through 30-day free trials. Other companies including Eventbrite, Equinox, Walmart, the NBA, and many others.
At its core, Clearview tracks and scrap database of billions of photos from social media and the web and shared to identify photos that can be useful for law enforcement organizations, government agencies that seek to track criminals. Besides law agencies, as per the new data, the firm also shared its technology with companies across 27 countries.
More so, BuzzFeed News reports that;
“In some cases… officials at a number of those places initially had no idea their employees were using the software or denied ever trying the facial recognition tool,”
However, on the other hand, in an interview with the Fox Business, Clearview’s CEO Hoan Ton notes that the technology of Clearview is “strictly for law enforcement”. On questioning, Coinbase spokesperson acknowledged the use of the technology citing that it is used only for “unique needs around security and compliance”. The spokesperson went on to say that they are not definite about using the product, rather, they tested it…
“to see if the service could meaningfully bolster our efforts to protect employees and offices against physical threats and investigate fraud.”
This isn’t the first time Coinbase has come under the criticism, however, earlier the firm was accused of selling its client’s data to third party sources following the statement of its ex-officials.