Dutch Watchdog Fines Clearview AI € 30.5 Mio for Privacy Breach

The Dutch Data Protection Authority imposed a € 30.5 million fine on Clearview AI for violating the privacy rights of Dutch citizens. The decision accuses the facial recognition company of "unlawful processing of personal data" and "processing a special category of personal data (biometric data)" without consent or legitimate interest.

According to the Dutch regulator, Clearview AI "processes personal data when scraping the internet" and "independently determines which personal data they collect." The company's practices were found to contravene multiple articles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the requirement to "take appropriate measures in order for data subjects to receive all information" about data processing.

The ruling orders Clearview to cease its violations and "end the processing of personal data of data subjects who are within the territory of the Netherlands."

Failure to comply could result "in a total maximum amount of 5.1 million euro on top of the fine." Clearview AI, known for collecting facial images from social media and other websites, continues to face global scrutiny. This latest penalty emphasises the ongoing challenges posed by privacy regulations in the face of rapid advancements in AI technology, especially within facial recognition.