Dutch Regulator Slams Clearview AI with €30.5 Million Penalty for “Massive” Rights Breach
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) announced on Tuesday that it has imposed a €30.5 million ($33.7 million) fine on US facial recognition company Clearview AI for illegally creating a database of billions of facial images. The DPA also banned Clearview’s operations in the Netherlands and warned companies working with the firm that they could face significant penalties.
Clearview AI collects facial images from the internet without permission and sells access to its database, which reportedly contains over 50 billion photos, to clients including law enforcement agencies.
“Facial recognition is a highly intrusive technology, that you cannot simply unleash on anyone in the world,” Dutch DPA chairman Aleid Wolfsen said. “If there is a photo of you on the Internet – and doesn’t that apply to all of us? – then you can end up in the database of Clearview and be tracked. This is not a doom scenario from a scary film. Nor is it something that could only be done in China.”
The Dutch regulator’s decision follows similar fines imposed on Clearview in other European countries, including Britain, France, and Italy. Clearview has previously argued that it is not subject to EU privacy laws as it has no clients or premises in the EU and only provides services to intelligence and investigation agencies outside the bloc.
However, Wolfsen dismissed this argument with a warning, “Clearview breaks the law, and this makes using the services of Clearview illegal. Dutch organisations that use Clearview may therefore expect hefty fines from the Dutch DPA.” The DPA added that Clearview could face additional penalties of up to €5.1 million ($5.64 million) if it does not cease its violations.
Wolfsen emphasized the need to prevent further rights violations, saying, “Such company cannot continue to violate the rights of Europeans and get away with it. Certainly not in this serious manner and on this massive scale.”
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