Clearview AI - Detailed Review
Image Tools
Clearview AI - Product Overview
Clearview AI Overview
Clearview AI is a leading facial recognition technology company that plays a crucial role in the field of image tools and AI-driven identification. Here’s a brief overview of its primary function, target audience, and key features:
Primary Function
Clearview AI acts as a search engine for publicly available images, compiling over 50 billion images from the internet into a proprietary database. This database is used in conjunction with advanced facial recognition technology to help identify individuals. When a user uploads an image, the system processes it and returns links to similar faces found in the database, aiding in investigative and identification processes.
Target Audience
Historically, Clearview AI has primarily served government agencies and their agents, including law enforcement, the FBI, the Department of the Army, the Air Force, and the Department of Justice. However, the company is now expanding its services to include the private sector, such as banks and other corporate customers, with a focus on identity verification.
Key Features
- Accuracy and Bias-Free Results: Clearview AI’s facial recognition algorithm is highly accurate, achieving 99% or better accuracy across all demographic groups, including variations in age, gender, ethnic background, and race. This ensures that the results are unbiased and reliable.
- Extensive Database: The company boasts the world’s largest facial recognition repository, with over 50 billion publicly available images. This extensive database helps investigators identify individuals, even those without prior arrest records or DMV records.
- Advanced Matching Capabilities: The algorithm accounts for age progression, variations in poses and positions, changes in facial hair, and other visual conditions, making it highly effective in matching faces.
- User-Friendly Interface: Clearview AI 2.0 introduces features such as case file organization, investigation archiving, and enhanced reporting tools, making it easier for investigators to manage and track their cases.
- Public Defender Access: With the launch of JusticeClearview, the company is also providing its facial recognition tools to public defenders to help exonerate the wrongfully accused.
Clearview AI’s technology has been instrumental in solving various crimes, including crimes against children, homicides, financial fraud, and human trafficking, and has also aided in humanitarian efforts such as identifying unconscious patients and reunifying refugees.
Clearview AI - User Interface and Experience
User Interface Overview
The user interface of Clearview AI is characterized by its simplicity and ease of use, making it accessible to a wide range of users, particularly law enforcement agencies.Interface Structure
When a user logs into Clearview AI, they are presented with a straightforward interface. The initial screen, often referred to as a ‘splash screen,’ provides clear instructions on how to use the system. It advises users to upload the best possible photo of the individual in question, ensuring the face is facing forward with both eyes visible and without glasses. This screen also reminds users to follow the law and use the system only for authorized purposes.Upload and Analysis
The process of using Clearview AI is relatively simple. Users upload an image of the individual they are trying to identify. The system then analyzes this image, extracting facial features and converting them into numerical representations (vectors) that are compared against a vast database of over 3 billion publicly available images. This database is compiled from images posted on the internet by individuals and organizations.Search and Results
Once the image is uploaded, Clearview AI searches its extensive database to find matches. If a likely match is found, the system displays the publicly available image along with its associated public link. This process is often likened to a ‘Google search for faces,’ highlighting its intuitive and efficient nature.Image Enhancement
Clearview AI 2.0 includes additional features to enhance the usability of the system. It offers an in-line editor that allows users to adjust the uploaded image by flipping, rotating, adjusting brightness, cropping, or un-blurring it. These enhancements are documented and marked in the audit trail to ensure transparency and accountability.User Experience
The overall user experience is streamlined and user-friendly. The interface is designed to be intuitive, ensuring that users can quickly and effectively conduct facial recognition searches without needing extensive technical knowledge. This simplicity is crucial for law enforcement officers who need to act swiftly and accurately in their investigations.Conclusion
In summary, Clearview AI’s user interface is easy to use, with clear instructions and a simple workflow that makes it accessible to a broad range of users, particularly those in law enforcement. The system’s ability to enhance images and provide quick, accurate matches enhances the overall user experience. Clearview AI - Key Features and Functionality
Clearview AI Overview
Clearview AI is a sophisticated facial recognition platform that offers several key features and functionalities, particularly tailored for law enforcement and government agencies. Here are the main aspects of the product:
Large-Scale Image Database
Clearview AI boasts the world’s largest facial recognition repository, comprising over 50 billion publicly available facial images sourced from various internet sources, including news media, mugshot websites, and public social media.
- Benefit: This vast database enables investigators to identify individuals, even those without prior arrest records or DMV records, including first-time offenders and victims.
Advanced Facial Recognition Algorithm
The platform uses an AI-driven facial recognition algorithm that achieves 99% or better accuracy across all demographic groups, including variations in age, gender, ethnic background, and race. This algorithm accounts for age progression, different poses and positions, changes in facial hair, and various visual conditions.
- Benefit: This high accuracy ensures reliable and unbiased results, supporting fair and effective policing strategies.
Search and Matching Functionality
When a user uploads an image, Clearview AI’s algorithm processes it and returns links to publicly available images that contain faces similar to the person in the uploaded image. The system requires users to make independent assessments of whether there is a match between the images retrieved and the image provided.
- Benefit: This process aids in quick and accurate identification of suspects, persons of interest, and victims, helping to solve and prevent crimes.
Case Management and Organization
Clearview AI 2.0 introduces features to organize investigations, allowing users to group multiple searches of the same or different persons of interest into a single “case file.” Users can save searches and set up alerts for new potential matches to a probe image.
- Benefit: This enhances the efficiency of investigations by keeping all relevant information organized and easily accessible.
Reporting and Accountability
Each use of Clearview AI generates a unique report that includes all the information used for an identification, along with applicable metadata. The system also stores a search history containing the probe image, the purpose of the search, and the identity of the searching user. This ensures transparency and accountability, making the stored information available to legal and judicial authorities as needed.
- Benefit: This feature helps in maintaining public trust and ensures that the use of facial recognition technology is auditable and compliant with regulatory standards.
Enhanced Security and Compliance
Clearview AI prioritizes security with measures such as access controls based on the principle of least privilege, compliance with regulations like SOC 2 and data privacy laws, and annual penetration testing. The platform encrypts customer data at rest and during transit and provides comprehensive security education and training to employees.
- Benefit: These security measures protect sensitive information and ensure the integrity of the system.
Additional Tools and Features
Clearview AI 2.0 includes various additional tools such as face mask detection, presentation attack detection (to identify deep fakes), and image enhancement to improve results on low-quality images. The platform also supports video processing efficiently.
- Benefit: These features enhance the accuracy and reliability of facial recognition, even in challenging conditions, and help in detecting and preventing fraud.
Commercial Applications via Developer API
Clearview AI offers its facial recognition technology to commercial clients through the Clearview Developer API. This allows businesses to build their own databases of faces, perform searches, and detect fakes, all with high accuracy and security.
- Benefit: This extends the benefits of Clearview AI’s technology to various commercial sectors such as banking, security, payments, and visitor management, helping to secure customer identities and reduce fraud.
Conclusion
In summary, Clearview AI integrates advanced AI technology with a massive image database to provide highly accurate and efficient facial recognition solutions, primarily for law enforcement and government agencies, while also offering commercial applications through its developer API.
Clearview AI - Performance and Accuracy
Clearview AI Overview
Clearview AI, a facial recognition technology, boasts several notable features and achievements in terms of performance and accuracy, but it also has some limitations and areas for improvement.Accuracy and Performance
Clearview AI’s facial recognition algorithm has demonstrated high accuracy in various tests. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT), Clearview AI’s algorithm achieved an accuracy rate of 99.85% in identifying the correct person out of a lineup of 12 million photos. This high accuracy is consistent across all demographic groups, including different ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds, which helps reduce potential biases in the identification process.Strict Standards for Results
Clearview AI adheres to strict standards to ensure accurate results. Unlike some other facial recognition systems, Clearview AI does not provide percentage match scores or distance scores next to its results. Instead, it requires users to click on the web link associated with the result, ensuring that investigators do not rely solely on algorithmic matches. The system is also hardcoded to return no results if the search falls below a 99% accuracy threshold, except in cases involving the protection of children from crimes.Human Review and Verification
To prevent misidentification, Clearview AI mandates that all possible matches generated by the system must be reviewed and assessed by trained law enforcement agents. This ensures that no identification is based solely on automated results, adding a layer of human judgment and accountability.Large Dataset and Public Image Search
Clearview AI’s database consists of over 50 billion publicly available images, which helps in reducing potential bias and increasing accuracy. This large dataset allows law enforcement to search beyond local images, making it effective for identifying suspects across different jurisdictions.Limitations and Areas for Improvement
Despite its high accuracy, Clearview AI faces criticism and has several areas that require attention:Privacy Concerns
The technology has been criticized for scraping photographs from the internet without users’ permission, raising significant privacy concerns.Misuse by Law Enforcement
There have been instances where law enforcement agencies have used Clearview AI in ways that violate their own policies, such as giving access to the system to many officers outside the designated facial recognition team and using it on personal devices.Ongoing Bias Issues
While Clearview AI has shown high accuracy across demographics, the broader issue of racial bias in AI systems remains a significant concern that requires ongoing attention and solutions.Conclusion
In summary, Clearview AI’s performance and accuracy are highly regarded, particularly in its ability to identify individuals with a high degree of precision across diverse demographics. However, it is crucial to address the privacy concerns and ensure that the technology is used in compliance with established policies and ethical standards. Clearview AI - Pricing and Plans
Clearview AI Plans Overview
Clearview AI offers several plans for its facial recognition platform, each with distinct features and support levels. Here’s a breakdown of the available plans:
Basic Plan
- Clearview AI Application: Access to the facial recognition platform for identifying and investigating persons of interest.
- Utilize a database of over 50 billion facial images sourced from public web sources, including news media, mugshot websites, and public social media.
- Use your own database of images with private galleries (e.g., mugshots).
- Regular platform upgrades.
- Customer Support: Basic support via email and chat, available Monday to Friday, 9AM to 5PM EST. An Assigned Customer Success Manager (CSM) is also provided.
Pro Plan
- Premium Features:
- Still Image Extraction: Extract high-quality images from video footage, eliminating the need for manual screenshot capture and upload.
- Deconfliction: Enhance interagency collaboration and information sharing.
- Advanced Tools:
- Supported integrations with Clearview AI’s strategic partners.
- Advanced Support:
- Access to engineering resources for deployment guidance, integration support, and issue resolution.
Key Differences
- The Pro plan includes additional features like still image extraction and deconfliction, which are not available in the Basic plan.
- The Pro plan also offers more comprehensive support, including engineering resources, which is not included in the Basic plan.
No Free Options
There are no free plans or trials mentioned for Clearview AI’s facial recognition platform. The pricing is structured around the Basic and Pro plans, each requiring a subscription.
Clearview AI - Integration and Compatibility
Integrations with Strategic Partners
Supported Integrations
Clearview AI offers supported integrations with its strategic partners, which is a feature available in both the PRO plan and other advanced offerings. This integration allows for seamless collaboration and data sharing between different agencies and systems, facilitating more effective investigations.Advanced Tools and Features
Key Features of the PRO Plan
The PRO plan includes features like Still Image Extraction, which enables users to extract high-quality images from video footage, and Deconfliction, which enhances interagency collaboration and information sharing. These tools are integrated into the Clearview AI platform to streamline investigative processes.Compatibility Across Devices
Integration with Augmented Reality
Clearview AI’s technology is compatible with a range of devices, including augmented reality (AR) glasses. For instance, Clearview AI has integrated its facial recognition technology into AR glasses made by Vuzix, allowing users to identify individuals up to 10 feet away. This integration extends the utility of Clearview AI beyond traditional computer-based platforms.Platform Upgrades and Support
Regular Updates and User Support
The platform undergoes regular upgrades, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and improvements. For users on the PRO plan, there is additional support from engineering resources for deployment guidance, integration support, and issue resolution. This ensures that the integration with other tools and systems remains smooth and effective.Compliance and Management Tools
Enhanced Features in Clearview AI 2.0
Clearview AI 2.0, the latest version of their platform, includes enhanced compliance and investigation management tools. These tools are designed to support law enforcement agencies better, ensuring that the technology is used legally and for its intended purposes. This version is being rolled out to over 3,100 agencies across the U.S., including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.Conclusion
In summary, Clearview AI’s integration capabilities are focused on enhancing the investigative processes for government agencies through strategic partnerships, advanced tools, and compatibility with various devices, all while ensuring compliance and effective management. Clearview AI - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support Options
Clearview AI provides several customer support options and additional resources to ensure users of their image tools and facial recognition technology have the assistance they need.Customer Support Channels
Clearview AI offers customer support through various channels:- Basic Support: Available via email and chat, this support is accessible Monday to Friday between 9AM and 5PM EST. This is included in the Basic plan.
- Assigned Customer Success Manager (CSM): Each customer is assigned a CSM to provide additional support and guidance.
Additional Resources
- Documentation and Guides: While the specific details are not outlined in the provided sources, it is common for such services to offer detailed documentation and guides to help users understand and use the platform effectively.
- Platform Upgrades: Clearview AI regularly deploys platform upgrades to ensure the service remains up-to-date and functional.
- Integrations: The Pro plan includes supported integrations with Clearview AI’s strategic partners, which can enhance the functionality and usability of the platform.
Communication
Users can also communicate with the Clearview AI customer support team via telephone, SMS, or MMS messages. If a user provides a mobile number, they consent to receiving communications from Clearview AI for business-related and customer service purposes, such as facilitating two-factor authentication, providing updates on orders, and responding to inquiries.Training and Best Practices
Clearview AI emphasizes the importance of accuracy and best practices in using their facial recognition technology. They ensure that results are subject to non-automated human review and verification, and they maintain a high standard of accuracy across all demographic groups. By providing these support options and resources, Clearview AI aims to ensure that users can effectively utilize their facial recognition and image tools, addressing any issues or questions that may arise during use. Clearview AI - Pros and Cons
Advantages of Clearview AI
Clearview AI offers several significant advantages, particularly in the context of law enforcement and public safety:Efficiency in Identification
Clearview AI’s facial recognition technology significantly enhances the efficiency of identifying unknown individuals. It uses a vast database of publicly available images to match faces, which can be crucial in investigations, especially for identifying suspects, witnesses, and victims.High Accuracy
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) ratings, Clearview AI’s algorithm achieves a high degree of accuracy, exceeding 99% in various tests. This accuracy helps reduce the likelihood of false positives and false negatives, making it a reliable tool for law enforcement.Versatility in Applications
The technology is versatile and can be used for multiple investigative purposes, including target identification, base defense, peacekeeping operations, and combat situations. It also aids in enhancing Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and traditional intelligence gathering by analyzing vast amounts of data quickly.Enhanced Public Safety
Clearview AI has been instrumental in solving various crimes, such as shoplifting, child abuse, sex trafficking, and homicides. It helps create safer communities by providing law enforcement with critical information to track down dangerous criminals.Security and Compliance
Clearview AI prioritizes security with measures such as access controls, compliance with regulations like SOC 2, annual penetration testing, and encryption of customer data. This ensures that the use of the technology is secure and transparent.Disadvantages of Clearview AI
Despite its benefits, Clearview AI also raises several concerns:Privacy Issues
The technology collects images from various public sources, including social media, which raises significant privacy concerns. Many individuals whose images are used may not have given explicit consent for their photos to be included in a law enforcement database.Racial Bias
Although Clearview AI claims high accuracy and minimal bias according to NIST ratings, the broader issue of racial bias in facial recognition technology remains a concern. This bias can lead to false arrests and wrongful convictions, particularly affecting marginalized communities.Potential for Abuse
There is a risk that law enforcement officials could use the technology for personal reasons or that it could be misused by other entities, such as private corporations or foreign governments, to target dissidents or activists.Security Breaches
Clearview AI has experienced security breaches, such as the hacking incident in 2020, which exposed the customer list and highlighted vulnerabilities in the system’s security.Lack of Transparency and Regulation
There are concerns about the lack of clear regulations and oversight regarding the use of facial recognition technology. This lack of transparency can lead to mistrust and calls for stricter controls on how such technology is employed. In summary, while Clearview AI offers significant advantages in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and public safety, it also raises critical concerns about privacy, bias, potential abuse, and security. Addressing these issues is essential to ensure the responsible use of this technology. Clearview AI - Comparison with Competitors
When Comparing Clearview AI to Competitors
Clearview AI’s Unique Features
- Clearview AI stands out for its vast database of over 50 billion publicly available images, scraped from the internet, including social media, employment sites, YouTube, and other public-facing platforms.
- The company uses an automated image scraper to collect images, extract facial features, and translate them into numerical representations (vectors) for identification purposes. This process involves hashing these vectors for efficient indexing and future identification.
- Clearview AI acts as a search engine for facial recognition, providing links to publicly available images that match the uploaded image, which is a distinct approach compared to other facial recognition systems that rely on government-created records.
Competitors and Alternatives
Rank One Computing
- Rank One Computing is a competitor that specializes in artificial intelligence and computer vision. They offer facial recognition software, object detection software, and custom AI development, primarily serving the FinTech, public safety, national security, and commercial security sectors. Unlike Clearview AI, Rank One Computing does not rely on scraping public web images but focuses on more targeted applications.
Paravision
- Paravision, formerly known as Ever AI, specializes in face recognition technology using computer vision and AI. They offer tools for age, gender, emotion, and ethnicity detection, which are useful for customer authentication. Paravision’s approach is more focused on enterprise security and authentication rather than the broad public image database of Clearview AI.
Idemia
- Idemia specializes in biometric and cryptographic technologies, offering a wide range of services including payment card issuance, digital payment solutions, and public safety solutions. While Idemia does offer facial recognition, its scope is broader and more diversified across various sectors such as government, public security, and financial services. Idemia’s approach is more integrated into larger security and identity verification systems.
iProov
- iProov focuses on presence assurance technology for remote user verification, particularly in sectors like financial services, government, healthcare, and travel. Their technology is more about authenticating users online rather than identifying individuals through facial recognition in public images.
Kairos
- Kairos is another face recognition AI company with an ethical approach, recognizing faces in videos, photos, and real-world settings. Their API platform simplifies the integration of human identity into software, but unlike Clearview AI, Kairos does not scrape public web images on a large scale.
Key Differences
- Data Source: Clearview AI’s extensive database of publicly available images sets it apart from competitors who may rely on more controlled or specific data sources.
- Application Scope: While Clearview AI is primarily used for investigative and identification purposes, competitors like Rank One Computing, Paravision, and Idemia have more specialized applications across different sectors.
- Technology Focus: Clearview AI’s unique algorithm and match threshold settings, which achieve high accuracy across all demographic groups, distinguish it from competitors that may focus on different aspects of facial recognition and biometric technology.
Conclusion
In summary, Clearview AI’s vast public image database and its role as a search engine for facial recognition make it a unique player in the market. However, other companies offer specialized solutions that might be more suitable depending on the specific needs of the user.
Clearview AI - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clearview AI and how does it work?
Clearview AI is a facial recognition company that provides software primarily to law enforcement and government agencies. It acts as a search engine for publicly available images, compiling over 50 billion facial images from sources like news media, mugshot websites, and public social media. When a user uploads an image, Clearview AI’s technology processes the image, extracts facial features, and compares them against its database to find matching faces.
Where does Clearview AI source its images?
Clearview AI sources its images from publicly available web sources, including news media, mugshot websites, public social media, and other open sources. It does not use private or non-public data.
How accurate is Clearview AI’s facial recognition technology?
Clearview AI claims high accuracy rates for its facial recognition technology. In tests conducted by the company, it has reported accuracy rates of 98.6%, 99.6%, or even 100%. However, these results are based on tests by people affiliated with the company and may not reflect real-world performance. In a third-party test by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Clearview ranked among the top 10 out of 300 algorithms in matching two different photos of the same person.
What are the key features of Clearview AI’s plans?
Clearview AI offers different plans, including a Basic and a Pro plan. The Basic plan provides access to the facial recognition platform, the largest known database of facial images, and basic customer support. The Pro plan includes additional features such as still image extraction from video footage, deconfliction for interagency collaboration, and advanced support with engineering resources.
How does Clearview AI ensure the responsible use of its technology?
Clearview AI requires its law enforcement customers to provide a case number and crime type to ensure an audit trail and enforce responsible usage. The company also provides training for its customers and ensures that results are subject to non-automated human review and verification. Images that do not reach a high level of probability of being a true positive are excluded from the results.
Can Clearview AI be used for real-time surveillance?
No, Clearview AI is not intended to be used as a real-time surveillance tool. It is primarily used for after-the-crime investigations to help identify criminal suspects and solve crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and child abuse.
What kind of support does Clearview AI offer to its customers?
Clearview AI offers different levels of customer support depending on the plan. The Basic plan includes support via email and chat from Monday to Friday between 9AM and 5PM EST, along with an assigned Customer Success Manager. The Pro plan includes additional support with engineering resources for deployment guidance, integration support, and issue resolution.
Are there any additional tools or features being developed by Clearview AI?
Yes, Clearview AI is developing additional tools such as “deblur” and “mask removal” using machine learning models. These tools are intended to sharpen blurred images and envision the covered part of an individual’s face, although they may increase the potential for errors and are meant to generate leads rather than definitive identifications.
How is the cost structured for using Clearview AI?
The cost of using Clearview AI can vary depending on the plan chosen. For example, the Hays County Sheriff’s department approved a three-year plan costing $19,485, with annual payments of $6,495. The pricing includes access to the platform, database, and support services.
Can Clearview AI make decisions on identity based on its matches?
No, Clearview AI does not make decisions that an image of a face is a particular person. It provides the results of a search of its database based on an uploaded image and returns images that match the query. These results are then subject to human review and verification.