CEO of Controversial facial recognition startup ClearviewAI has resigned

According to a statement provided to TechCrunch, the CEO of Clearview AI, a controversial face recognition startup that slashed out the Internet to create a searchable database of 30 billion photos, has stepped down.

CEO Hoan Ton-That said, “It’s time for the next chapter in my life,” and he will remain as a board member of ClearView AI. He declined to comment when asked for details of what specifically caused his resignation. That’s what the news was First reported By Forbes.

ClearView AI has two “co-CEOs”: early investors Hal Lambert and co-founder Richard Schwartz, who want to take advantage of new “opportunities” under the Trump administration, according to Clearview AI sent to TechCrunch. there is.

Both men have a long history in Republican politics. Point Bridge Capital, a Lambert investment company, is Maga etf 2017 invests in companies supporting Republican candidates. Meanwhile, Schwartz acted as a Senior Advisor He became Rudy Giuliani during his tenure as mayor of New York City.

ClearView AI sells access to facial recognition databases to law enforcement and federal agencies that use it to identify suspects and find missing people. The startup had to dodge multiple privacy suits and fines as they obtained the photos without people’s consent.

As of September 2024, Clearview AI has earned more than $100 million in GDPR fines from European data protection agencies such as the Netherlands and France. ClearView AI has historically been uncooperative and refused to pay these fines. (ClearView did not respond to requests for comment from TechCrunch.

Clearview AI claims that conservative investor and self-explanatory investigative journalist Charles Johnson is the co-founder and claims he owes a share of the committee. It’s there. Johnson recently dropped his suit. Legal submission. However, counterclaims in ClearView AI’s lawsuit alleging honour and breach of contract against Johnson are ongoing and biometric renewals are ongoing. It has been reported.

When asked by TechCrunch, Ton refused to elaborate on his plans. According to his statement, Clearview AI achieved the highest growth and revenue in 2024, financially in the “most powerful position ever.” However, startups struggle to win large federal contracts and remain unprofitable, and Forbes It has been reported.

ClearView AI, its Investor include Peter Thiel and Navy Ravicant raised $30 million in the 2021 Series B round, valuing the company at $130 million, he said. I’ll post it on that website.