ACLU v. Clearview AI, Inc. (Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois)

Summary

The ACLU, the ACLU of Illinois, the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, Sex Workers Outreach Project Chicago, Illinois PIRG and Mujeres Latinas en Acción sued Clearview AI in Cook County on May 28, 2020, represented by the ACLU, the ACLU of Illinois and Edelson PC. They alleged that Clearview violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act by capturing faceprints from online photos without notice or consent. Under a settlement filed on May 9, 2022, and made final by a consent order on May 11, 2022, Clearview is permanently barred nationwide from giving most private companies and individuals access to its faceprint database. For five years it may not sell access to any Illinois entity, including police. It must also keep an opt-out form for Illinois residents and fund $50,000 of ads promoting it.

Key dates

1. May 28, 2020Filed
2. May 11, 2022Resolved
3. October 16, 2026Checked against sources
4. October 21, 2026Checked against sources

Developments are added when the record is reviewed. Next review: October 16, 2027.

Evidence

Each passage is quoted from its source. The quoted passages are re-checked against the live pages every month.

1. The ACLU, ACLU of Illinois, and the law firm Edelson PC filed a lawsuit on May 28, 2020 against Clearview AI alleging violation of Illinois residents’ privacy rights under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).

   Supports: Filing date and claim

   After the parties reached a settlement agreement , on May 11, 2022, the court signed a consent order ending this case.

   Supports: Consent order date

   ACLU v. Clearview AI (case page) American Civil Liberties Union Primary source

2. Clearview is permanently banned, nationwide, from making its faceprint database available to most businesses and other private entities. The company will also cease selling access to its database to any entity in Illinois, including state and local police, for five years.

   Supports: Settlement terms

   The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, the Sex Workers Outreach Project Chicago, the Illinois State Public Interest Research Group, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, the ACLU, and the ACLU of Illinois.

   Supports: Plaintiffs

   In Big Win, Settlement Ensures Clearview AI Complies With Groundbreaking Illinois Biometric Privacy Law American Civil Liberties Union (press release, May 9, 2022) Primary source