Coinbase utilizes Clearview AI facial recognition system

Cryptocurrency company Coinbase began testing the infamous facial recognition system fromAmerican startup Clearview AI.

According to BuzzFeed, a system from Clearview AIcurrently uses more than 2200 companies. Through artificial intelligence, the system uses a database of images collected on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other sites. In this case, data is collected without the consent of users.

According to The New York Times, since 2019The company collaborates with more than 600 government departments. In particular, the police and special services of the United States and Canada received access to the system. Also, the system has already been tested by the financial giants Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

Many experts believe that data collection methodsviolate social media policies. For example, Facebook, Google and Twitter have already announced that they have begun verification. However, representatives of Clearview AI claim that the system uses only public images. That is, if the user changes the privacy settings on Facebook, the system will not include photos from the profile.

It is also noteworthy that Clearview AI stores all images, even if they are subsequently deleted from the original source.

According to Pitchbook, in 2017 Clearview AIreceived funding from Kirenaga Partners and Peter Thiel. The latter provided $ 200 thousand, thus obtaining a share in the startup. In 2019, Clearview AI raised another $ 7 million from a group of investors as part of the Series A funding round.

ForkLog previously reported that Coinbase has developed a plan to aggravate the coronavirus epidemic.