Facial recognition startup Clearview AI settles privacy suit
Facial recognition startup Clearview AI has reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging its massive photographic collection of faces violated the subjects’ privacy rights
CHICAGO — Facial recognition startup Clearview AI reached a settlement Friday in an Illinois lawsuit alleging its massive photographic collection of faces violated the subjects' privacy rights, a deal that attorneys estimate could be worth more than $50 million.
But the unique agreement gives plaintiffs in the federal suit a share of the company's potential value, rather than a traditional payout. Attorneys' fees estimated at $20 million also would come out of the settlement amount.
Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman, of the Northern District of Illinois, gave preliminary approval to the agreement Friday.
The case consolidated lawsuits from around the U.S. filed against Clearview, which pulled photos from social media and elsewhere on the internet to create a database it sold to businesses, individuals and government entities.
The company settled a separate case alleging violation of privacy rights in Illinois in 2022, agreeing to stop selling access to its database to private businesses or individuals. That agreement still allowed Clearview to work with federal agencies and local law enforcement outside Illinois, which has a strict digital privacy law.
Clearview does not admit any liability as part of the latest settlement agreement.
“Clearview AI is pleased to have reached an agreement in this class action settlement,” James Thompson, an attorney representing the company in the suit, said in a written statement Friday.
The lead plaintiffs' attorney Jon Loevy said the agreement was a “creative solution” necessitated by Clearview's financial status.
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