Coinbase, the U.S. cryptocurrency exchange boasting over 20 million views per month and over xxx million total accounts, has tested Clearview AI facial recognition engineering science according to a BuzzFeed News report. Nevertheless, Coinbase has denied that the examination involved customer data.

The controversial software has been the subject of intense scrutiny since a New York Times commodity exposed the company's database of over iii billion images, scraped from "millions" of websites and social media platforms without the consent of the users or publishers.

Clearview AI has been threatened with legal action by some of those companies and platforms, including Facebook, Google, and Twitter.

Although Clearview'due south CEO, Hoan Ton-That, had previously claimed that the software was only deployed with law enforcement agencies — and that its business was focused exclusively on the Usa and Canada — an anonymous source revealed the entire customer list to BuzzFeed. The list contained thousands of entities from 26 countries.

They're watching

Household names such every bit Walmart, Macy'southward and Best Purchase are included on the list, forth with universities, high schools, banks, authorities agencies, and multiple police departments.

Merely the inclusion of Coinbase will be a surprise to many in the cryptocurrency manufacture, which is characterized by a powerful drive for privacy. A spokesperson for the exchange told BuzzFeed that it was testing Clearview due to its "unique needs around security and compliance".

The spokesperson connected to annotation:

"Our security and compliance teams tested Clearview AI to encounter if the service could meaningfully eternalize our efforts to protect employees and offices against physical threats and investigate fraud. At this time, we have not made any commitments to use Clearview AI."

While many of the companies listed in the customer database appeared to exist trialing the product through individual accounts — some apparently without the knowledge of senior management — Coinbase'south response suggests that the testing was sanctioned.

Facial recognition is at present widespread

The potential for misuse of facial recognition engineering science, which is not currently regulated in the U.Due south., has led some states to consider legislation to outlaw it completely

A captain with the Senoia Police Department told BuzzFeed that "It'southward merely like you lot giving a weapon to a constabulary officer. You would promise that he uses information technology properly and doesn't use it improperly and remembers his grooming. It's a good tool if used appropriately and with caution."

Cointelegraph has reached out to Coinbase to request details on whether the engineering has been used to  screen potential employees or to place people visiting Coinbase's offices. This article will be updated with their response.