Clearview AI wins an ICE contract as it prepares to defend itself in court

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this week signed a deal with Clearview AI to licence the facial recognition company's technology. According to a federal purchase order unearthed by the nonprofit Tech Inquiry (via The Verge), an ICE mission support office in Dallas is paying $224,000 for "Clearview licenses." Engadget has contacted Clearview and ICE for details on the scope of this agreement, as well as what ICE plans to do with those licenses. ICE and Clearview signed the deal just as the company is set to defend itself in court. Lawsuits filed in a number of states accuse Clearview of violating privacy and safety laws. It can identify a person by matching their photo against billions of images it has scraped from social media and other internet services.