EVERALBUM SETTLES FTC ALLEGATIONS THAT IT DECEIVED CONSUMERS ABOUT ITS USE OF FACIAL RECOGNITION

15.01.2021

A California-based developer of a photo app called as Ever that allowed users to upload photos and videos from their mobile devices, computers, or social media accounts, has settled with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) over the allegations that it deceived consumers about its use of facial recognition technology and its retention of the photos and videos of users who deactivated their accounts. 

In the present case, the FTC alleges that Everalbum Inc. launched a new feature in the Ever app, called “Friends” that used facial recognition technology to group users’ photos by the faces of the people who appear in them and allowed users to “tag” people by name. Everalbum allegedly enabled facial recognition by default for all mobile app users when it launched the Friends feature.

Everalbum also promised users that the company would delete the photos and videos of Ever users who deactivated their accounts. The FTC alleges, however, that until at least October 2019, Everalbum failed to delete the photos or videos of any users who had deactivated their accounts and instead retained them indefinitely.

As part of the proposed settlement, Everalbum Inc. must obtain consumers’ express consent before using facial recognition technology on their photos and videos. The proposed order also requires the company to delete models and algorithms it developed by using the photos and videos uploaded by its users.

You can reach the FTC’s announcement here.

Should you have any queries and/or remarks, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Kind regards,

Zumbul Attorneys-at-Law

info@zumbul.av.tr