United StatesTechnology and telecom2017–2021Everalbum
Facial recognition in Ever Friends and model training
Everalbum's FTC settlement required deletion of face embeddings and trained models
Problem
Everalbum offered photo storage and organization. Its Friends feature grouped photographs by the people appearing in them.
Approach
Everalbum launched Friends in 2017 with facial recognition enabled by default. The FTC alleged deceptive consent and retention practices. A 2021 consent order required deletion of face embeddings lacking affirmative consent and models developed using Ever users' biometric information, subject to legal retention exceptions.
Results
No published figures
Takeaway
The settlement's deletion requirements extended to trained models as well as user data.
Categories
- Size
- Small business
- Industry
- Technology and telecom
- Business function
- IT and R&D
- Innovation type
- Product and service innovation
- AI technology
- Computer vision
- Adoption
- Built in-house
- Evidence
- Regulator, audit or court
Sources
Source summaries
The FTC described Friends and alleged misleading practices involving facial recognition and retained photographs. It traced the feature's launch to 2017.
The consent order imposed disclosure and consent requirements and required deletion of specified data and models. Everalbum neither admitted nor denied the complaint's allegations, except for jurisdictional facts.
Full details are in the original sources.