Austrian Privacy Group Challenges Clearview AI's Data Practices

Austrian privacy group noyb has filed a criminal complaint against U.S.-based Clearview AI for allegedly violating EU data protection laws by collecting images of EU residents. The case could set a precedent for criminal enforcement of GDPR violations, highlighting ongoing concerns about biometric surveillance.

On Tuesday, Austrian privacy group noyb escalated its efforts to hold Clearview AI accountable by filing a criminal complaint in Austria. The U.S.-based company is accused of breaking European Union laws by collecting images and videos of European citizens to power its facial-recognition database.

Clearview AI's practices have already drawn regulatory scrutiny in several European countries, including France, Greece, Italy, and the Netherlands. These nations collectively fined Clearview nearly 100 million euros for General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) breaches. Despite these fines, Clearview contests a 7.5-million-pound fine by the UK, arguing non-application of UK GDPR to its operations.

The Austrian complaint seeks to influence Clearview's data-scraping activities through criminal penalties, a move seen as critical given existing administrative penalties have proven ineffective. The case, if successful, could dramatically influence how non-EU firms processing Europeans' biometric data operate, emphasizing the tension between privacy rights and technological capabilities in surveillance.

(With inputs from agencies.)