Volusia County Sheriff’s Office uses controversial new technology to help solve crimes

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Volusia County investigators are using a controversial piece of technology to help them solve crimes.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood announced it Friday on Facebook. Deputies now have access to what claims to be the largest facial recognition database.

Chitwood said he signed a year contract with Clearview AI.

According to the company, it gives the Sheriff’s Office access to more than 2 billion pictures posted publicly to the internet.

The companies database is available to police departments to help them solve crimes, according to its website.

Chitwood said investigators upload photos to Clearview’s database, then they search for a match.

During a trial run, Chitwood said Clearview helped investigators develop leads in 30 cases.

Chitwood said the leads are further vetted, meaning a match doesn’t necessarily mean an arrest.

In November, Clearview did help Clermont police close one of its cases.

Investigators disseminated surveillance pictures of an alleged thief.

At the same time, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office was testing Clearview AI and ran the images.

Clearview found Heather Reynolds by matching pictures on her Facebook page.

Investigators said a tattoo seen in the surveillance and her Facebook pictures confirmed her identity.

According to Chitwood, “this technology, when used correctly, clearly can be a huge benefit for law enforcement.”

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