BuzzFeed research finds dozens of NC law enforcement agencies have used facial recognition technology

A new report from Buzzfeed gives a more clear picture of how widespread the use of a controversial facial recognition app has been among North Carolina law enforcement agencies.

Posted 2:35 p.m. Apr 6, 2021 — Updated 10:19 p.m. Apr 6, 2021

RALEIGH, N.C. — A new report from Buzzfeed gives a more clear picture of how widespread the use of a controversial facial recognition app has been among North Carolina law enforcement agencies.

Buzzfeed got access to a list of clients of Clearview AI from a confidential source, and cross-referenced that with further interviews, research and public records to compile the data and published it Tuesday.

BuzzFeed: Your Local Police Department Might Have Used This Facial Recognition Tool To Surveil You

WRAL News reported in 2020 that the Raleigh Police Department was known to have used the technology, but department leaders could not say how many of its officers and civilian workers had access to the app in the six months before the agency abruptly halted its use.

Clearview AI has marketed its service to law enforcement as the "secret sauce" behind fast and accurate facial recognition aimed at solving crimes. A New York Times investigation revealed in January 2020 that the company collected billions of those images from the internet without consent, drawing the ire of tech giants, privacy advocates and at least one state attorney general.

Raleigh police abruptly end use of controversial facial recognition tech

Raleigh police signed up for the service in August 2019, paying $2,500 for year-long access for three users – all analysts and a supervisor. But after six months, following questions from WRAL News, the department said on Feb. 11, 2020, it had ended the use of Clearview amid a review of its policies.

The BuzzFeed database lists more than 60 towns, cities and police and sheriff's departments across the state believed to have run searches using Clearview technology between 2018 and February 2020. Included are agencies as large as the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles and as small as the Raeford Police Department. Police departments in Cary, Durham and Fayetteville are listed as users of Clearview. Most did not confirm to BuzzFeed whether they did, but some like Knightdale police admitted to tapping the service.

WRAL Investigates reached out to various local departments for reaction.

The Cary Police Department used a free trial of Clearview AI for four months ending in February of 2020. They became concerned after the company reported a data breach and ended the service.

A spokesperson from Durham Police Department said that, despite being listed by BuzzFeed, there is no record the department used the service.

A Raleigh Police Department spokeswoman told BuzzFeed, "Clearview AI is most often used to investigate formidable crimes that are extraordinary in nature such as reports of human trafficking and shootings. With the understanding of the privacy issues that the software raises, consideration of the 4th amendment is forefront. Many factors are considered when detectives are conducting an investigation before they decide what would be the best route to take in order to follow a lead. These searches are fairly narrow in their scope, are limited and are focused specifically on what they are looking for at that time. Any relevant information gained from its use is retained as part of the investigation.”

Sgt. Jeremy Glass said the Fayetteville Police Department used Clearview AI as one of many investigative tools.

"As with any investigative tool, the information we obtain is used to conduct independent verification prior to confirmation. We do not rely, or remain dependent upon, a single piece of information to close cases or make arrests without proper follow-up and confirmation," Glass said in a statement.

He added, "We do not use Clearview in any way that violates any local, state, or national law."

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