Clearview AI used by Australian Federal Police and 3 state police forces
Information Certainty: Documented
Deployment Purpose: Criminal investigations, Surveillance
| Summary |
|---|
| 0 |
Products and Institutions:
| Product Deployed | Clearview AI (Software) |
|---|---|
| Institutions ⠉ | Clearview AI |
| Datasets | Clearview AI (Dataset) |
| Search software |
Status and Events:
| Status | Concluded |
|---|---|
| Events | Start (2 November 2019, Documented, , No description) End (2 November 2021, Documented, , No description) |
| Start Date | |
| End Date |
Users:
| Involved Entities | Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation |
|---|---|
| Managed by | Australian Federal Police |
| Used by | Australian Federal Police Queensland Police Victoria Police South Australia Police |
Location:
| City | Canberra |
|---|---|
| Country ⠉ | Australia |
Description[ ]
In 2019 it was discovered that Australian Federal Police and police forces had been using Clearview AI. Though the Australian Federal Police denied that they had been using the technology, emails between Clearviews founder and the force reveal they had been using it on at least one trial basis.
At least one officer tested the software using images of herself and another member of staff as part of a free trial. In another incident, staff from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCE) conducted searches for five "persons of interest". According to emails released under Freedom of Information laws, one officer also used the app on their personal phone, apparently without information security approval 1
The emails also show some bemusement internally at public claims the AFP was not using the tool, with one officer commenting: "Maybe someone should tell the media that we are using it!" "Or should we stop using it since everyone is raising the issue of approval," another replies, with a smiley face emoji. "Interesting that someone says we aren't using it when we clearly are," another employee from the ACCCE wrote on January 21. Officers were directed to cease all access as of January 22, 2020 — four days after the New York Times story was published 1
The data indicates four of Australia’s law enforcement agencies have dozens of users between them registered with Clearview AI. Between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and state forces in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, police have run more than 1,000 searches 3
South Australia Police also denied it uses Clearview AI, despite leaked data showing a number of users who have collectively run more than 15 searches. When contacted by BuzzFeed News, a senior constable claimed the police could not make inquiries without the raw data 3
In November 2021, the Australian information and privacy commissioner ordered that Clearview stop scraping these photos. At the time, Clearview stated they would appeal the decision however they do not appear to have done so.
Facial recognition firm Clearview AI has been ordered to cease collecting photos of Australians from the internet, after it was revealed police in some states had trialled the technology. On Wednesday, the information and privacy commissioner determined Clearview AI had breached the privacy of Australians by collecting images of them online, and ordered the company to delete all images of people in Australia within 90 days and not collect any more 2
The OAIC found that Clearview AI breached Australian data protection law by:
-collecting Australians’ sensitive information without consent -collecting personal information by unfair means -not taking reasonable steps to notify individuals of the collection of personal information -not taking reasonable steps to ensure that personal information it disclosed was accurate, having regard to the purpose of disclosure; and -not taking reasonable steps to implement practices, procedures and systems to ensure compliance with the Australian Privacy Principles.
The OAIC ordered Clearview AI to cease collecting facial images and biometric templates from individuals in Australia, and to destroy existing images and templates collected from Australia. On 15 December 2021, the OAIC also said that Australia’s Federal Police Force breached data protection rules when using Clearview 4
References
- a b c Bogle, Ariel. Documents reveal AFP's use of controversial facial recognition technology. , 2020.
- a b Taylor, Josh. Facial recognition firm Clearview AI to appeal order to stop collecting images of Australians. , 2021.
- a b c "Australian Police Have Run Hundreds Of Searches On Clearview AI's Facial Recognition Tool". (2020) <https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahryan/clearview-ai-australia-police> Accessed: 2022-06-15
- a b "Client Alert: Clearview AI ordered to close down Australian operations + provisional UK fine announced". (2021) <https://www.corderycompliance.com/clearview-to-close-oz-ops/> Accessed: 2022-06-15