Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reached a proposed settlement with Evolv Technology, a Massachusetts-based company specializing in AI-powered weapons detection systems, over allegations that it made deceptive claims about its products. The settlement would prohibit a company from promoting unsupported assertions about its technology’s effectiveness, particularly its ability to detect concealed weapons such as bombs, guns, and knives.
Evolv’s scanners are widely used in schools, hospitals, and stadiums across the United States, marketed as advanced replacements for traditional metal detectors. However, investigative reports have raised significant doubts about the system’s reliability, prompting concerns about potential risks posed by overstated claims.
Unreliable Detection Claims
FTC’s complaint highlights Evolv’s advertising as deceptive, citing promises that its scanners could detect “all weapons” through artificial intelligence. She claims were central to the company’s marketing efforts, with its former CEO, Peter George, stating in 2021 that technology had “tens of thousands of [weapon] signatures” in its database.
Yet, independent investigations have painted a different picture. In 2022, BBC revealed testing data obtained through a Freedom of Information request by security-analysis firm IPVM, which demonstrated that Evolv’s scanners often failed to reliably identify weapons, including firearms and explosives.
Furr scrutiny followed a stabbing incident in a New York school where Evolv’s scanners were deployed. Superintendent of Utica Schools, who had firsthand experience with technology, told BBC in 2023, “It truly, truly does not find knives.”
False UK Government Endorsements
Earlier this year, a BBC investigation exposed Evolv’s false claims that its technology had been tested and approved by the UK government. No such endorsement existed, raising further questions about the company’s marketing practices.
FTC Settlement and Operation AI Comply
Under the proposed settlement, Evolv will no longer be allowed to make unsubstantiated claims about its products’ capabilities. The company will also offer certain school customers the option to cancel their contracts. The settlement, which does not include monetary penalties, is subject to judicial approval.
“FTC has been clear that claims about technology – including artificial intelligence – need to be backed up,” said Samuel Levine, Director of FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “This action serves as a warning to companies overstating the power of AI.”
Settlement aligns with FTC’s broader initiative, “Operation AI Comply,” which targets deceptive claims about artificial intelligence in commercial products.
Evolv’s Response
Evolv’s interim CEO, Mike Ellenbogen, downplayed FTC’s actions, emphasizing that inquiry focused on past marketing language rather than technology’s effectiveness.
“FTC did not challenge the fundamental effectiveness of our technology, and resolution does not include any monetary relief,” Ellenbogen stated. He added that the company had cooperated with regulators and stood by the value its scanners bring to security operations.
Broader Concerns About AI Misrepresentation
This case underscores growing concerns about the overstatement of artificial intelligence capabilities in commercial products. Officials in the U.S. and UK have voiced unease over companies falsely portraying AI as a transformative force, with some systems eir underperforming or not using AI at all.
As AI technology becomes more pervasive, regulatory agencies like the FTC are increasing our vigilance, ensuring companies are held accountable for unverified claims that could jeopardize public safety.
The settlement with Evolv marks a significant step in addressing these concerns, signaling to the broader industry that inflated AI marketing will not go unchecked.
