noyb Files Austrian Criminal Complaint Against Clearview AI Over Biometric Data Collection

Privacy advocacy organization noyb filed a criminal complaint with Austrian public prosecutors against facial-recognition company Clearview AI over its collection and processing of personal and biometric data. Clearview claims to have collected more than 60 billion photos, allowing customers to identify people through facial-recognition searches. The complaint escalates a privacy controversy previously examined by The New York Times.

According to noyb’s July 2023 report, European data protection authorities had found GDPR violations, issued processing bans and imposed approximately €100 million in fines, but enforcement had proved ineffective. The complaint invokes Austrian criminal data protection provisions, potentially exposing responsible executives to personal liability and imprisonment if proceedings succeed. For organizations using facial-recognition services, the case highlights the need to verify the lawful provenance of biometric data and assess vendors’ compliance with regulatory orders.