Netherlands Imposes Million-Dollar Fines on Artificial Intelligence Businesses
An American tech corporation, known as Clearview AI, has been hit with a massive €30.5 million fine by Dutch authorities for secretly amassing a database comprising over 30 billion images without the individuals' approval or consent. The Dutch fine and ban on the company's operations stem from the discovery of Dutch citizens' photos in Clearview's database, deemed a breach of privacy and data protection laws.
The company must cease these illegal activities, as per the Dutch data protection authority. Failure to do so could lead to an additional €5.1 million fine, and the company would be barred from operating within Netherlands' borders.
Clearview's collection strategies drew ire from data protection activists, who decried the practice as illegal since it involved gathering images without consent, particularly from social media users. Clearview's software has been employed by U.S. police departments but faces heavy criticism for this unauthorized data collection.
Already sanctioned in the UK, France, and Italy, the company's German operations have been met with controversy. No public record or disclosure is available regarding Clearview's customer base or whether German law enforcement agencies utilize the software. Consumer advocates call for greater transparency in the use of facial recognition technology, as German authorities remain undecided over permitting its use by security services, led by Interior Minister Faeser.
The Dutch data protection authority firmly stands by its decision, given the Commission's previous recommendations against such data collection practices. If Clearview AI continues to violate data protection laws, they risk facing even more severe consequences.
