Italy’s data privacy watchdog has given US-based RegTech firm ClearView AI a €20m fine over controversies surrounding its facial recognition software.
According to Security Week, the watchdog ordered the company to delete data relating to people in Italy and banned in from further collection and processing of information in the country.
ClearView claims it has built up a database of more than 10 billion facial images taken from public websites which it touts as a tool for law enforcement.
The watchdog said that despite ClearView’s assertions to the contrary, the RegTech had allowed the tracking of citizens and people in Italy.
It said, “The personal data held by the company, including biometric and geolocation data, are processed unlawfully.”
ClearView was also found to have violated several principles of GDPR. The watchdog said ClearView should designate an EU representative to act as ‘an interlocutor’ with plaintiffs.
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