Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan filed
a lawsuit against Clearview, 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.
Tor Ekeland, an attorney for Clearview AI, said
in an email that the tool helps law enforcement
catch child rapists, murderers, and thieves
while protecting the innocent from being
falsely accused.
“Clearview operates in strict accordance with the
U.S. Constitution and American law,” he wrote,
adding that the firm welcomes the chance to
work collaboratively with the state outside of
the courtroom “to further refine our proven,
crime-solving technology for the benefit of all.
“However, we are ready to defend our, and the
public’s, Constitutional right to access freely
available public information.”