South Korea investigates Worldcoin over biometric data collection
South Korea's Personal Information Protection Committee has launched an investigation into Worldcoin, a project that uses iris scanning technology to create a global digital identity. The investigation follows complaints alleging that Worldcoin collected sensitive biometric data from individuals at ten locations across the country without proper consent. The regulator is examining whether Worldcoin violated privacy laws in its data handling practices.
- Company involved
- Worldcoin
- AI system involved
- Worldcoin
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Hive Box Facial-Recognition Lockers Hacked by Children Using Photos
Fourth-grade students in Jiaxing, China, demonstrated that Hive Box's facial-recognition smart lockers could be opened with a printed photo. The company, which operates a large network of delivery lockers, acknowledged the flaw and suspended the beta feature. The incident raised concerns about the security of facial recognition technology.
- Company involved
- Hive Box
1 source article · read the reporting →
iBorderCtrl lie detector falsely flagged honest reporter as liar
A journalist testing Europe's iBorderCtrl virtual policeman at the Serbian-Hungarian border gave honest answers but was deemed a liar by the system, scoring 48 out of 100 with four false answers flagged. The Hungarian policeman said the result suggested further checks, though none were carried out. The reporter only learned of the result after filing a data access request under European privacy laws. Experts and transparency activists have criticised the technology as pseudoscientific and potentially discriminatory.
- Company involved
- iBorderCtrl consortium
- AI system involved
- Silent Talker / iBorderCtrl virtual policeman
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Sri Lankan government falsely identified Amara Majeed as Easter bombing suspect due to facial recognition error
Amara Majeed testified to the Maryland General Assembly that Sri Lankan authorities falsely identified her as a suspect in the 2019 Easter bombings after an error in facial recognition technology. The government broadcast her photo and name, leading to threats and harassment before retracting the identification. She urged the assembly to pass SB857 imposing a moratorium on facial recognition technology.
- Company involved
- Sri Lankan government
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Worldcoin halts ID verification in Indonesia after regulatory freeze
Worldcoin, the digital identity project developed by Tools for Humanity, voluntarily paused its identity verification services in Indonesia on May 5, 2025, following a regulatory freeze by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Application. The ministry acted after preliminary investigations found that operating companies lacked required electronic system provider licenses. Worldcoin uses its Orb device to scan faces and irises to create unique digital identities. The company said it is committed to addressing any regulatory shortcomings and awaits clearer guidance.
- Company involved
- Worldcoin
- AI system involved
- World ID
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Seoul Metropolitan Government rolls out AI CCTV cameras to prevent suicides
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has rolled out AI-enabled CCTV cameras on Han River bridges to identify people at risk of suicide. The system uses deep learning to analyse behavioural patterns and alerts rescue teams. Experts and Privacy International have raised concerns that it is invasive and could be misused because it captures biometric data without explicit consent. The article also considers whether such technology could be implemented in India.
- Company involved
- Seoul Metropolitan Government
8 source articles · read the reporting →
NYPD uses facial recognition to identify crime suspects since 2011
The New York City Police Department has used facial recognition technology since 2011 to compare images from criminal investigations with lawfully possessed arrest photos. The system generates possible matches that are then reviewed by human investigators before being used as leads. The NYPD states that no one has been arrested solely based on a facial recognition search and that it knows of no false arrests from such matches, though studies have found accuracy variations for certain demographic groups.
- Company involved
- New York City Police Department
- AI system involved
- Facial recognition
8 source articles · read the reporting →
French police secretly used Briefcam facial recognition since 2015
The French National Police has been using Briefcam's Video Synopsis software since 2015, according to internal documents obtained by Disclose. The software, which includes facial recognition capabilities, was deployed without the required data protection impact assessment or notification to the CNIL. The Ministry of the Interior concealed the use of this tool for eight years. The police hierarchy allegedly used the software for facial recognition without judicial requisition, and the DGPN did not respond to requests for comment.
- Company involved
- French National Police
- AI system involved
- Briefcam Video Synopsis
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Delhi Police use facial recognition to screen PM Modi rally attendees
Delhi Police used an Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS) to screen crowds at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally on December 22, 2019. The system, originally installed to find missing children, was used to identify possible disruptions. Privacy advocates called the move illegal and unconstitutional, saying it amounts to mass surveillance. Police defended the use, citing credible intelligence about possible disruptions.
- Company involved
- Delhi Police
- AI system involved
- Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS)
6 source articles · read the reporting →
CBP One app strands migrants in Mexico, aids organised crime, says HRW
The US Customs and Border Protection's CBP One app, which is mandatory for asylum seekers, offers only 1,450 appointments per day while border arrivals average 7,240. Human Rights Watch reports that this digital metering leaves migrants stranded in Mexico, vulnerable to kidnapping and extortion by organised crime groups. The report alleges that the app enriches criminal cartels and that exceptions for imminent threats are often ignored.
- Company involved
- US Customs and Border Protection
- AI system involved
- CBP One
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Outabox hack exposes biometric data of patrons at bars, clubs and casinos
Hackers claiming to be former employees published a website allowing searches of Outabox's facial recognition database, exposing biometric and other sensitive data of patrons used for age verification at bars, clubs and casinos. The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project warns that the breach demonstrates the danger of facial recognition for age verification. S.T.O.P. has launched a campaign to ban facial recognition in public accommodations.
- Company involved
- Outabox
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Vumacam's AI CCTV system flagged 28 black people as suspicious in Johannesburg suburbs
In Johannesburg suburbs, Vumacam's AI-powered CCTV network using iSentry software flagged 28 black individuals as 'suspicious' in a shift report, according to a 2019 article. The system, deployed by private security firms, uses video analytics to detect abnormal behavior and alerts security guards. The article alleges that the system disproportionately targets people of color, reflecting racial bias in a racially divided country.
- Company involved
- Vumacam
- AI system involved
- iSentry
6 source articles · read the reporting →
PimEyes facial recognition search engine identifies individuals from public photos
PimEyes, a Polish facial recognition search engine, allows users to upload a photo and find matching images from across the internet. The system scrapes billions of photos and creates biometric profiles without consent. A banker named Dylan (pseudonym) discovered that an old party photo of him was found by the system, potentially outing his private life. Privacy advocates and platforms like Instagram and YouTube are taking action against PimEyes, alleging violations of the GDPR.
- Company involved
- PimEyes
- AI system involved
- PimEyes
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Buenos Aires city government uses live facial recognition to track minors in criminal database
The Buenos Aires city government deployed a live facial recognition system in April 2019 that scans subway passengers and matches them against CONARC, a national database of alleged offenders. Human Rights Watch found that the database includes at least 166 children, some as young as one to three years old, and that the system has led to numerous false arrests. The system was implemented without public consultation, and there is no mechanism to correct mistakes. A civil rights organization filed a lawsuit, and the government is pushing a bill to legalize the technology.
- Company involved
- Buenos Aires city government
1 source article · read the reporting →
Telangana Police facial recognition error leads to wrongful arrest and custodial death
Mohammed Khadeer, a 35-year-old man from Medak, was arrested by Telangana Police after a facial recognition system falsely matched his face to a suspect in a chain-snatching case. He was allegedly subjected to custodial torture and later died in hospital on 18 February 2023. The police acknowledged the error and released him after verifying his innocence, but he had already suffered severe injuries. The incident has raised concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the use of facial recognition technology by the police.
- Company involved
- Telangana Police
- AI system involved
- Telangana Police Facial Recognition System
1 source article · read the reporting →
Bahia Facial Recognition System Misidentifies Black Man as Wanted Criminal
Davi, a black administrative assistant, was tracked across 15 metro stations and approached by police after Bahia's facial recognition system falsely matched him to a wanted person. He was released after officers verified his identity. The system, supplied by Iecisa and Huawei, has a low accuracy rate and disproportionately affects black people. The government plans to expand it despite concerns over racial bias and errors.
- Company involved
- Secretaria de Segurança Pública da Bahia
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Greek Data Protection Authority fines Ministry of Migration and Asylum for AI surveillance systems
The Hellenic Data Protection Authority (HDPA) imposed an administrative fine of €175,000 on the Ministry of Migration and Asylum (MMA) for GDPR violations related to the 'Centaur' and 'Hyperion' programmes. These systems use AI behavioral analytics, CCTV, drones, and biometric data to monitor and control access to reception facilities for asylum seekers on Greek islands. The HDPA found that the MMA failed to conduct proper Data Protection Impact Assessments and did not cooperate with the authority. The MMA has been ordered to comply with GDPR within three months.
- Company involved
- Ministry of Migration and Asylum
- AI system involved
- Centaur and Hyperion programmes
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Manchester City to Trial Facial Recognition at Etihad Stadium
Manchester City are set to trial facial recognition software supplied by Blink Identity at the Etihad Stadium. The system would scan fans' faces to check whether they have bought tickets and allow entry, with the aim of reducing matchday queues. Fans would need to sign up using a picture of their face. The article notes concerns about the potential security of users, but the club and vendor say they are committed to protecting fans.
- Company involved
- Manchester City
1 source article · read the reporting →
FBI and ICE use state driver's license photos for facial recognition without consent
The FBI and ICE have been scanning millions of Americans' driver's license photos using facial recognition technology without their knowledge or consent, according to newly released documents. The agencies accessed state DMV databases, turning them into a facial-recognition gold mine. This practice raises significant privacy concerns as it was done without public awareness or legal oversight.
- Company involved
- FBI and ICE
1 source article · read the reporting →
Clearview AI facial recognition app scrapes billions of images and is used by police
Clearview AI, a secretive start-up, built a facial recognition app that matches photos to a database of more than three billion images scraped from social media and websites. More than 600 law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, have used the tool to identify suspects in crimes such as shoplifting, identity theft and murder. The company monitored officers who ran a reporter's photo through the app, and its founder acknowledged designing an augmented-reality prototype but said there were no plans to release it. Critics warned the tool could end anonymity and enable misuse.
- Company involved
- Clearview AI
- AI system involved
- Clearview AI facial recognition app
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Xuhui police expand facial recognition surveillance to profile 1.1 million residents
The Xuhui District branch of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security is expanding its Intelligent Image Recognition System, adding 2,500 facial recognition cameras and increased computing capacity to build profiles of residents and flag deviations. The project, contracted to US-sanctioned FiberHome, is designed to match each face to files on more than 50 million people. Officials say the system will analyse behaviour patterns and trigger early warnings.
- Company involved
- Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security, Xuhui District Branch
- AI system involved
- Intelligent Image Recognition System
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Kmart's facial recognition system for refund fraud found unlawful by Privacy Commissioner
Kmart Australia deployed facial recognition technology in 28 stores from June 2020 to July 2022, capturing biometric data of every customer entering the stores and those at returns counters to detect refund fraud. The system collected sensitive information without notifying customers or obtaining their consent. The Australian Privacy Commissioner found that Kmart breached the Privacy Act, as the exemption for unlawful activity did not justify the indiscriminate and disproportionate collection of biometric data from thousands of individuals. Kmart has ceased using the system and cooperated with the investigation.
- Company involved
- Kmart Australia Limited
7 source articles · read the reporting →
NYPD Facial Recognition Leads to Wrongful Arrest of Trevis Williams
In April 2025, Trevis Williams was arrested by the NYPD after a facial recognition program matched his mug shot to a suspect in a February flashing incident, despite an eight-inch height difference and alibi evidence. The victim identified him from the AI-suggested photo array. Mr. Williams spent over two days in jail before the case was dismissed in July. The incident highlights the risks of using facial recognition on low-quality surveillance images.
- Company involved
- New York Police Department
2 source articles · read the reporting →
West Midlands Police test NDAS system to assess crime risk
West Midlands Police are testing a system called the National Data Analytics Solution (NDAS) that analyses police data to assess the risk of individuals committing a crime or becoming a victim. The Home Office has funded the project with millions of pounds, intending to roll it out across England and Wales. Critics warn that the system could reinforce bias against minorities and undermine the presumption of innocence. The police say the technology is designed to support, not replace, officer decision-making and that it is still in early testing.
- Company involved
- West Midlands Police
- AI system involved
- National Data Analytics Solution
1 source article · read the reporting →
