MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The state of Vermont is suing a data broker that it says uses facial recognition technology to map the faces of Vermonters, including children, and then sells access to the data to private businesses, individuals and law enforcement.
New York-based Clearview AI has drawn attention following investigative reports about its practice of harvesting billions of photos from social media and other services to identify people. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other companies in February demanded that Clearview stop harvesting their users’ images.
Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan filed a lawsuit against Clearview on Tuesday, alleging that the company violated Vermont’s Consumer Protection Act and new data broker law.
“I am disturbed by this practice, particularly the practice of collecting and selling children’s facial recognition data,” Donovan said in a written statement. “This practice is unscrupulous, unethical, and contrary to public policy.”
The state also asked the court to order Clearview to stop collecting or storing Vermonters’ photos and facial recognition data.
Clearview didn’t immediately return an emailed request for comment.
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