The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a proposed settlement with Evolv Technologies, a Massachusetts-based company accused of making false claims about the capabilities of its AI-powered security scanners used in schools and other venues. This marks a critical move in the FTC’s broader effort to ensure the integrity of artificial intelligence marketing, particularly in applications that impact public safety.
The FTC alleged that Evolv misrepresented the effectiveness of its Evolv Express scanners in detecting weapons and ignoring harmless items. The company advertised its scanners as a high-tech alternative to traditional metal detectors, claiming they were faster, more accurate, and could reduce labor costs by up to 70%. According to the FTC complaint, the scanners failed to detect weapons in several instances, including a seven-inch knife that was later used in a school stabbing in 2022. Meanwhile, harmless items like laptops and water bottles frequently triggered false alarms.
The FTC also noted Evolv’s marketing campaign, which targeted schools by emphasizing the scanners’ ability to address weapons threats. Schools, making up half of Evolv’s customer base, placed these scanners in over 800 institutions across 40 states.
Despite Evolv introducing new sensitivity settings in 2023 to better detect knives, the adjustments reportedly increased false alarms and required additional staffing, negating the claimed cost-efficiency of the systems. The FTC pointed out that these measures brought the scanners closer to functioning like traditional, lower-cost metal detectors.
Evolv also suggested that schools adopt manual screening measures, such as conveyor belts, to handle flagged items, further undermining the promised streamlined experience.
Under the proposed settlement, Evolv must notify certain K-12 school customers who signed contracts between April 2022 and June 2023 that they may opt to cancel their agreements. Additionally, Evolv is prohibited from making unsubstantiated claims about:
- The ability of its products to detect weapons and ignore non-threatening items without additional manual processes.
- Accuracy rates, false alarms, and performance compared to traditional metal detectors.
- Screening speed and labor cost savings.
- Testing procedures and results.
- Any material aspects of its technology, including the role of AI.
This settlement comes as part of the FTC’s broader initiative, “Operation AI Comply,” which targets deceptive AI-related claims. The FTC emphasized that Evolv’s case highlights the risks of inflated AI claims in sensitive sectors like education and security. By addressing misleading marketing, the agency seeks to protect consumers and foster trust in AI technologies, ensuring legitimate innovations can thrive without undermining public safety.
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