Clearview AI Names New Co-CEOs Amid Controversial Leadership Shift

Hoan Ton-That, CEO of Clearview AI, has resigned from his position, stating it is time for the 'next chapter' in his life while remaining on the company's board. Following his departure, Hal Lambert and Richard Schwartz have been appointed as co-CEOs, with Lambert indicating a focus on securing contracts with U.S. federal agencies under the Trump administration, which he believes will be more favorable to Clearview's facial recognition technology. The company has faced significant backlash for its controversial practices of scraping billions of images from social media without consent, leading to over $100 million in fines from various European data protection agencies. Although Clearview AI has struggled to gain traction federally, it has managed to sign contracts with local law enforcement agencies. In light of the change in administration, Lambert expressed optimism about future growth, stating Clearview aims to triple its revenue this year. Ton-That noted that Clearview achieved its highest growth and revenues in 2024, leaving the company in a strong position for his successors.