Clearview AI fined by Dutch data protection watchdog over faces database

Hoan Ton-That, chief executive of Clearview AI, demonstrates the company’s facial recognition software using a photo of himself (Seth Wenig/AP)

The Dutch data protection watchdog on Tuesday issued facial recognition startup Clearview AI with a fine of 30.5 million euros (£25,600 million) over its creation of what the agency called an “illegal database” of billion of photos of faces.

The Netherlands’ Data Protection Agency, or DPA, also told Dutch companies that using Clearview’s services is also banned.