S.T.O.P. Condemns Staten Island DA Secret Purchase Of Facial Recognition Software From Clearview AI

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View this email in your browser For Immediate Release S.T.O.P. Condemns Staten Island DA Secret Purchase Of Facial Recognition Software From Clearview AI   [NEW YORK, NY, 1/21/2020] -- Today, the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.), a New York-based privacy group, condemns the Staten Island District Attorney’s Office for secretly purchasing facial recognition software from the controversial company Clearview AI. Clearview AI, which is currently being sued by the ACLU and other litigants, gained national notoriety after revealing it had taken billions of images without consent to create an unprecedented facial recognition database.   SEE: Gothamist - Staten Island DA Quietly Purchased Controversial Facial Recognition Software https://gothamist.com/news/staten-island-da-quietly-purchased-controversial-facial-recognition-software   The Verge - ACLU sues facial recognition firm Clearview AI, calling it a ‘nightmare scenario’ for privacy https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/28/21273388/aclu-clearview-ai-lawsuit-facial-recognition-database-illinois-biometric-laws “All facial recognition software is biased and invasive, but Clearview AI is even worse,” said Albert Cahn, Executive Director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. “Prosecutors shouldn’t partner with companies that steal our images. Clearview AI has drawn national condemnation for taking billions of photos without consent. The Staten Island DA should be working to put this invasive company out of business, not giving it our tax dollars. Even worse, the DA hid this from the public, using this Orwellian technology in secret. This is just the latest piece of evidence for why we need to outlaw facial recognition in New York.”   The New York civil rights group previously condemned the NYPD for its use of Clearview AI and its subsequent coverup. Despite claims that the NYPD never used the software firms, reporting later revealed NYPD officers had conducted over 11,000 searches with the platform.   SEE: S.T.O.P. Condemns NYPD Coverup of ‘Clearview AI’ Facial Recognition Program, New Documents Show Extensive Partnership https://www.stopspying.org/latest-news/2020/2/27/stop-condemns-nypd-coverup-of-clearview-ai-facial-recognition-program-new-documents-show-extensive-partnership?rq=clearview   Clearview AI Says Its Facial Recognition Software Identified A Terrorism Suspect. The Cops Say That's Not True. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanmac/clearview-ai-nypd-facial-recognition   Rogue NYPD cops are using facial recognition app Clearview https://nypost.com/2020/01/23/rogue-nypd-cops-are-using-sketchy-facial-recognition-app-clearview/    The New York privacy group is a proponent of S79, a bill from state senator Brad Hoylman which would outlaw all law enforcement use of facial recognition and other biometric tracking.   See: Text – Senate Bill S79 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S79 The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project is a non-profit advocacy organization and legal services provider hosted by the Urban Justice Center. S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, fighting excessive local and state-level surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, and communities of color.   - END – CONTACT: S.T.O.P. Executive Director Albert Fox Cahn; Copyright © 2019 Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.