Clearview
Submitted | Jan. 18, 2020 |
Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Brian Waters
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Vermont Public Records Act, in which I am seeking records relating to Clearview, a vendor of facial recognition software which utilizes social media photographs, and was recently featured in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/18/technology/clearview-privacy-facial-recognition.html.
Specifically, I am requesting the following records:
1) Any invoices or contracts with Clearview.
2) Emails sent to or from your agency, to addresses ending with @clearview.ai. Please search your records for messages dating back to 2017.
3) Documents sufficient to show any investigations where Clearview may have been used to identify a suspect or follow a lead.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.
I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 3 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Brian Waters
From: Vermont State Police
Good morning Mr. Waters --
Thank you for writing. I have forwarded your message to our records custodian, Heidi Storm, who will process it and respond as the law requires. You may reach her via email at heidi.storm@vermont.gov if you have any follow-up questions.
Thank you,
Adam Silverman
Public information officer
Vermont State Police
From: Brian Waters
Thank you Adam. I will make sure to correspond w/ Heidi for future requests.
Brian Waters
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Vermont Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 18, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Vermont State Police
Brian,
I received your request addressed to Adam Silverman on 1/18/2020 asking for any records relating to Clearview, a vendor of facial recognition software, specifically seeking;
1) Any invoices or contracts with Clearview.
2) Emails sent to or from your agency, to addresses ending with @clearview.ai. dating back to 2017.
3) Documents sufficient to show any investigations where Clearview may have been used to identify a suspect or follow a lead.
The Department of Public Safety does not have any contracts with Clearview, therefore pursuant to 1 V.S.A. §318 (a)(4), we certify that the records do not exist in our files.
We are continuing to search for any emails that may fall within the scope of your request, as well as any investigations where Clearview may have utilized. We will be in touch when that search has been completed.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime.
Respectfully,
Heidi Storm
802-241-5351
Heidi Storm
Vermont State Police
Records and Alarm Administrator
45 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671
From: Vermont State Police
Good afternoon Brian,
I am following up on our February 6, 2020 correspondence regarding your request addressed to Adam Silverman on 1/18/2020 asking for any records relating to Clearview, a vendor of facial recognition software, specifically seeking;
1. Any invoices or contracts with Clearview.
2) Emails sent to or from your agency, to addresses ending with @clearview.ai. dating back to 2017.
3) Documents sufficient to show any investigations where Clearview may have been used to identify a suspect or follow a lead.
I have completed a search of emails ending in @clearview.ai dating back to 2017 and there were zero results. I also have confirmed that there are no Vermont State Police investigations where Clearview was used to identify a suspect or follow a lead, therefore pursuant to 1 V.S.A. §318 (a)(4), we certify that the records do not exist in our files.
We consider your request closed. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me anytime.
Heidi Storm
Vermont State Police
Records and Alarm Administrator
45 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671
802-241-5351
Files
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