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Cleveland police used AI to justify a search warrant. It derailed a murder case

Cleveland police used artificial intelligence software to justify a search warrant in a murder case. A judge, however, threw out the results of that search, including the gun authorities say was the murder weapon.

The affidavit simply says the fusion center matched Tolbert to “the unidentified male suspect, based on recovered surveillance video.” The filing adds that police also conducted interviews in the case, but it does not say who was contacted or the information provided. Clearview AI, a Delaware-based technology company, boasts that its facial recognition programs can be used to fight child exploitation, investigate crimes, exonerate the innocent and even identify Russian spies working in Ukraine, according to its website. Legg, the detective who signed the affidavit supporting the search warrant for Tolbert’s apartment, testified during the Jan. 9 hearing that he had never been trained in using facial recognition technology and was unaware of any city policy governing the issue.

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