ACLU and 50+ Organizations Urge Homeland Security to Stop Clearview AI Utilization

ACLU Joins Call to Halt Clearview AI’s Use by Homeland Security

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has teamed up with over 50 advocacy organizations to urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to cease the deployment of Clearview AI’s controversial facial recognition technology. In a letter directed to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, they articulated their grave concerns regarding the federal government’s reliance on this private company’s technology. They requested an immediate stop to any usage of Clearview AI across DHS agencies, whether on a contractual, trial, or any other basis.

Clearview AI has drawn significant criticism from privacy advocates due to its practice of gathering over three billion biometric identifiers from websites such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn without user consent. An investigation by Huffington Post has also revealed disturbing connections between Clearview AI and far-right elements. Clearview’s lawyer, Tor Ekeland, famously declared last year that “common law has never recognized a right to privacy for your face.”

Despite the scrutiny, thousands of both state and federal law enforcement agencies have employed Clearview AI’s technology, with usage reportedly spiking by 26 percent following the Capitol Hill riot. While tools like these can serve as powerful resources in the battle against serious crime when used alongside warrants and other legal avenues, it is concerning that many agency leaders were unaware that their personnel were utilizing this tool.

Last year, the UK and Australia initiated a joint investigation into Clearview AI’s procedures. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), along with the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), is scrutinizing Clearview Inc.’s data handling practices, particularly focusing on its use of ‘scraped’ personal data and biometrics. The ICO issued a statement indicating that the European Data Protection Board expressed doubts about the compliance of any Clearview AI service usage by law enforcement with the EU data protection framework.

The organizations signing the letter to the DHS include:

• Mijente
• Just Futures Law
• The Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown Law
• Access Now
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• ACLU of Minnesota
• ACLU of Northern California
• ACLU of North Carolina
• Adelante Alabama Worker Center
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
• Center for Constitutional Rights
• Center for Popular Democracy
• Centro de Trabajadores Unidos
• Cleveland Jobs with Justice
• Colectiva Legal del Pueblo
• Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition
• Community Justice Exchange
• Community Justice Project, Inc.
• Connecticut Shoreline Indivisible
• Defending Rights & Dissent
• Demand Progress Education Fund
• Detention Watch Network
• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
• Electronic Privacy Information Center
• Fight for the Future
• Freedom for Immigrants
• Free Press
• Government Information Watch
• Immigrant Defense Project
• Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project
• La Resistencia
• Laredo Immigrant Alliance
• LatinoJustice PRLDEF
• Legal Aid at Work
• Louisiana Advocates for Immigrants in Detention
• MA Jobs with Justice
• MediaJustice
• Meyer Law Office, P.C.
• Muslim Advocates
• Muslim Justice League
• National Immigrant Justice Center
• National Immigration Law Center
• National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights
• National Network of Arab American Communities (NNAAC)
• National Organization for Women
• New America’s Open Technology Institute
• New Mexico Immigrant Law Center
• New York Civil Liberties Union
• Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
• Open MIC (Open Media and Information Companies Initiative)
• Open The Government
• OpenMedia
• Project for Privacy and Surveillance Accountability
• Project On Government Oversight
• Restore The Fourth
• Southeastern Immigrant Rights Network
• S.T.O.P. – Surveillance Technology Oversight Project
• Sanctuary DMV
• Twin Cities Innovation

The Biden administration is being urged by a coalition of civil rights organizations, including the UndocuBlack Network and United We Dream, to halt any new contracts with Clearview AI. The collective call emphasizes the immediate suspension of the platform’s usage by federal agencies, regardless of existing contracts.

In their statement, the signatories articulated concerns over Clearview AI’s ongoing breaches of civil liberties and privacy rights. They believe these issues provide a sufficient basis for discontinuing the use of the software altogether.

Interested in industry discussions on hot topics? Consider attending the forthcoming 5G Expo, IoT Tech Expo, Blockchain Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo World Series, which will take place in Silicon Valley, London, and Amsterdam.

NVIDIA’s Role in AI Manufacturing in Europe

NVIDIA is collaborating with Germany to take the lead in AI manufacturing across Europe. Recent reports highlight the advancements in MedTech AI, hardware, and clinical application programs that are shaping the industry.

The AI Execution Gap

Research indicates that as many as 80% of AI projects fail to reach production. This significant gap underscores the challenges faced by businesses in successfully implementing AI technologies.

Innovation in Education

In a notable shift, teachers in England have now received approval to utilize AI tools in their classrooms, enhancing educational methodologies and resource availability.

Stay connected with the latest developments in technology by joining our community!

Countries List:

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,
Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,
Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia,
Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger,
Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Macedonia, Northern Mariana Islands,
Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine (State of), Panama, Papua New Guinea,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar,
Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Réunion, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Helena,
Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia,
Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,
South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria (Arab Republic), Taiwan, Tajikistan,
Tanzania (the United Republic of), Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau,
Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands,
Tuvalu, Türkiye, US Minor Outlying Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates,
United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,
Viet Nam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (U.S.), Wallis and Futuna,
Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Åland Islands.