
Search Engine Should this creepy search engine exist?
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May 10, 2024 Kashmir Hill, a Technology reporter at the New York Times specializing in privacy issues, shares insights on the emergence of facial recognition search engines. She discusses the controversial Clearview AI, its implications for privacy, and the ethical dilemmas of using publicly available images. Hill reveals the tangled relationship between innovation, public safety, and individual rights. The conversation touches on societal reactions to surveillance, data misuse, and the challenges of regulating technology in an increasingly monitored world.
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Clearview AI's Surveillance
- Kashmir Hill investigated Clearview AI by contacting police departments using the software.
- After a detective ran Hill's photo, Clearview AI contacted him, revealing they were monitoring searches and her face.
Meeting the Investors
- Kashmir Hill used PitchBook to identify Clearview AI investors and visited their office.
- She met David Scalzo, an investor, who revealed the founders' names: Richard Schwartz and Juan Tontat.
Juan Tontat's Background
- Juan Tontat, Clearview AI's co-founder, built the search engine using publicly available AI resources and data scraping.
- He had a varied online presence, from guitar videos to deleted social media accounts, making him an enigmatic figure.




