Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Short answer: The Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, or AP) fined Clearview AI €30.5 million in a decision dated May 16, 2024, publicly announced on September 3, 2024. News reports rounded that amount to about $33 million. The AP found that Clearview unlawfully processed personal and biometric data connected with people in the Netherlands, mishandled access requests, and failed to appoint an EU representative. It did not issue a worldwide declaration that Clearview AI, every image in its database, or every use of its technology is illegal.
What the Dutch decision says
The AP imposed two administrative fines under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):
| Violation category | Fine |
|---|---|
| Lawfulness, fairness, transparency and biometric-data processing | €20 million |
| Failures involving people’s rights of access | €10.5 million |
| Total | €30.5 million |
The euro figure is the legally relevant amount. “$33 million” was a rounded dollar conversion used in coverage, not the currency stated in the decision. The AP’s announcement and decision are available from the European Data Protection Board and the AP’s full decision.
What Clearview AI does
Clearview AI is a US facial-recognition company. It built a searchable database of facial images collected from publicly accessible webpages and markets facial-search technology primarily to law-enforcement and government customers. Privacy International describes a database containing more than 10 billion faces, but database-size figures are reported estimates that can change and are not an independently verified count in the materials cited here (Privacy International).
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- Filter Dimensions: Width: 11 15/16" (304 mm), Height: 7 1/2" (190 mm), Diagonal: 14.1" (358.14 mm) - SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- Two Attachment Options - Installs in minutes. Option 1 uses clear adhesive strips that securely attach to any screen. Option 2 uses slide mount tabs that easily stick to the display frame, allowing you to slide the filter on and off the screen as needed.
- Superior Privacy and Anti Glare - Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful glare, UV, and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces - Our computer screen privacy filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports and public areas.
- Package Contents - Each package includes one privacy screen shield filter, two sets of clear adhesive strips, two sets of slide mount tabs, and a microfiber cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
A photograph being visible on a public webpage does not automatically authorize a company to copy it, index it, turn it into a biometric template, and make it searchable for identification by third parties. Those later activities can create separate privacy, transparency, retention and legal-basis obligations.
Why the AP called the processing unlawful
No adequate legal basis
The AP found that Clearview lacked an adequate legal basis for the relevant collection and use of personal data. GDPR Article 6 requires a lawful basis for processing; consent is only one possible basis, so it is inaccurate to say that the GDPR requires consent for every use. Here, the regulator concluded that Clearview’s justification did not satisfy the applicable requirements.
Biometric data
Facial images are not automatically biometric data in every context. Under GDPR Article 9, however, processing facial images for the purpose of uniquely identifying people can be special-category biometric processing, which receives stronger protection. The AP treated Clearview’s facial-recognition processing as biometric-data processing subject to those rules.
Rank #2
- Compatible Models: Width: 13 9/16" (13.5 inch/344 mm), Height: 7 5/8" (7.6 inch/194 mm), Diagonal: 15.6" (396.24 mm) widescreen laptops which have a 16:9 aspect ratio. Not touchscreen compatible !!! Not fit for 16:10.Do NOT rely solely on your laptop’s diagonal size when ordering. Use a ruler to measure your screen’s visible area (excluding the black bezels). If the width reads 344mm and height reads 194mm, this filter is a perfect match for your device.
- Keep Information Privacy: Effective "black out" privacy from side views outside the 60-degree viewing angle. Designed for optical clarity when viewing from the front, a person not at the front of the screen can only see the dark side of the screen, so it protects buisness secrets and personal privacy
- Eye and Screen Protection: Privacy filter does not only protect your private life but also protects your eyes by blocking 30% of blue light , blocking the harmful blue light between 380 - 495nm, it filters out the blue light and relieves eye strain. Our laptop privacy screen also helps keep your screen safe from dust and scratches
- Perfect For Open Workspaces: Great for maintaining screen privacy in high traffic areas such as open work spaces, airports, airplanes, commuter trains, coffee shops and other public places, etc
- Easy Installation: Choose between 2 simple Options; Slide-On/Off or Mounted. Not touchscreen compatible
Transparency and information duties
The decision cited violations involving GDPR Article 5(1)(a) (lawfulness, fairness and transparency) and Articles 12 and 14 (providing information to data subjects). People whose images were collected needed a practical way to understand the processing and exercise their rights; the AP found those obligations were not met.
Access requests
Two people in the Netherlands made access requests. The AP found that Clearview did not respond properly and did not adequately facilitate the exercise of access rights. That failure produced the separate €10.5 million fine under the decision’s analysis of Article 15.
No EU representative
GDPR Article 27 can require a company outside the EU that processes data about people in the EU to appoint an EU representative. The AP concluded that Clearview was required to have one but had not appointed one. A representative is a practical contact point for regulators and individuals, so its absence can complicate both rights requests and enforcement.
Rank #3
- 【Instant Snap-on Magnetic Attachment】- The Patented Magnetic Privacy Screen – Protected by U.S. Patents 9,829,669 and D844,012. Simply place the privacy screen along the top of your MacBook and let the magnets attach along the top. No need for tricky placement, messy tape, or damaging adhesive. Easily remove and reattach when you need it.
- 【Filter Dimensions】: Width: 12 3/16" (310 mm), Height: 6 7/8" (175 mm), Diagonal: 14" (355.6 mm) - There are two different 14 inch screen sizes, please select the correct one. SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- 【Superior Privacy】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful UV and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- The Laptop Privacy Screen Filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports, and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes a magnetic privacy screen filter, magnetic stickers, a webcam privacy cover, a storage folder, and a cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
What “declared illegal” means—and does not mean
“Clearview was declared illegal” is a headline shorthand for a regulator’s finding that specified processing violated the GDPR. It should not be read as any of the following:
- A criminal conviction.
- A court order dissolving the company.
- A worldwide ban on Clearview’s products or operations.
- A ruling that every image in the database was individually adjudicated unlawful.
- An automatic finding that every Clearview use in the United States violates US law.
The Dutch action was an administrative enforcement decision concerning processing connected with people in the Netherlands. GDPR territorial findings can be significant without determining the legal status of the company in every other country.
Orders beyond the money
The AP also issued orders subject to penalty payments. Clearview was ordered to stop the unlawful processing and remove personal data unlawfully obtained from people in the Netherlands. The decision addressed the company’s compliance with access rights as well as the underlying collection and biometric use.
Rank #4
- 【Instant Removable Snap-on Magnetic Attachment】- The Patented Magnetic Privacy Screen – Protected by U.S. Patents 9,829,669 and D844,012. Simply place the privacy screen protector along the top of your MacBook and let the magnets attach along the top. No need for tricky placement, messy tape, or damaging adhesive. Easily remove and reattach when you need it.
- 【Perfect Fit for 13.6" Liquid Retina】- The SightPro Magnetic Privacy Screen is designed to integrate seamlessly with your MacBook Air 13.6 Inch Year (2022, 2023*, 2024, 2025, 2026, M2, M3, M4, M5). (Model: A2681, A3113, A3240) Please note, the 13.6" MacBook Air is sometimes advertised as the 13" MacBook Air.
- 【Superior Privacy】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful UV and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- The MacBook Air Privacy Screen Filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports, and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】 - Each package includes a magnetic privacy screen filter, a storage folder, and a cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
A fine and a deletion order are different remedies: paying an administrative penalty does not by itself prove that data has been deleted, and an order to stop processing is not the same thing as a global prohibition on facial-recognition technology.
Has Clearview paid the €30.5 million?
The public sources identified for this article do not establish that the Dutch fine has been collected. The AP decision says collection would not proceed until related legal proceedings had concluded. A Dutch parliamentary record from June 2025 said Clearview did not intend to pay and highlighted the difficulty of enforcement because the company lacked an EU representative. That is a statement made in a parliamentary debate, not proof that the fine was finally extinguished or legally uncollectible (parliamentary record).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can Clearview still operate?
Clearview’s own FAQ says it does not offer its technology in the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia or Canada, and says it remains available in most US states subject to state-specific restrictions. That is the company’s position, not an independent survey of every contract or use (Clearview FAQ).
Recommended Free Tools
Best Value
- 【Instant Snap-on Magnetic Attachment】- The Patented Magnetic Privacy Screen – Protected by U.S. Patents 9,829,669 and D844,012. Simply place the privacy screen along the top of your MacBook and let the magnets attach along the top. No need for tricky placement, messy tape, or damaging adhesive. Easily remove and reattach when you need it.
- 【Filter Dimensions】: Width: 13.56" (344.5 mm), Height: 8.49" (215.6 mm), Diagonal: 16" (406 mm) - SightPro Blackout Privacy Filter is engineered to be compatible with Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer, Asus, Samsung, and other laptop brands. Please verify your screen's width and height measurements before ordering. It's not recommended to make your selection based solely on your screen's diagonal size. [Not optimized for touchscreens.]
- 【Superior Privacy】- Our advanced multi-layered film filter blacks out your screen when viewing from the side, while maintaining a crystal clear screen straight-on. It also protects your eyes from harmful UV and blue light. [Note: It does not block visibility directly behind you, regardless of the distance.]
- 【Perfect for Travel and Open Workspaces】- The Laptop Privacy Screen Filter is the ideal solution for healthcare providers, mobile workers, commuters, students, and business travelers. Now you can stay compliant and safeguard sensitive corporate information while working in airplanes, subways, airports, and public areas.
- 【Package Contents】- Each package includes a magnetic privacy screen filter, magnetic stickers, a webcam privacy cover, a storage folder, and a cleaning cloth. Buy with confidence – located in the US, Sight Pro specializes in providing best-in-class privacy solutions to individuals, small businesses, corporations, government, and educational institutions. Our privacy screens are Section 889 and TAA compliant.
Accordingly, “Clearview is banned in the US” is not an accurate blanket statement. US availability and restrictions can differ by state, customer and applicable law. Clearview also maintains that its technology is lawful on its legal-information page (company legal position).
How the Dutch action fits with other cases
| Jurisdiction | Action and status |
|---|---|
| Canada | Federal and provincial privacy authorities’ 2021 joint investigation found problems with collecting and using Canadians’ images without consent and recommended stopping collection, use and disclosure and deleting existing data (investigation; follow-up). |
| Italy | Italy’s privacy authority imposed a €20 million fine in February 2022 and ordered deletion of data about people in Italy and an end to the relevant processing (Italian decision). |
| France | France imposed a €20 million fine in October 2022 and ordered Clearview to stop processing and delete relevant data. In April 2023 it imposed a further €5.2 million penalty payment for noncompliance (EDPB summary). |
| United Kingdom | The UK Information Commissioner’s Office issued a £7,552,800 fine and an order in May 2022. Later litigation addressed whether UK data-protection law applied. In October 2025 the Upper Tribunal held that UK law could apply and that the activities could connect to behavioral monitoring, then remitted the case for consideration of the substantive appeal. The ICO reported in December 2025 that Clearview had permission to seek an appeal to the Court of Appeal. This is not a basis for calling the UK fine finally upheld (ICO update; Upper Tribunal judgment). |
| United States | US litigation includes claims under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act and a class-action settlement structure involving a potential equity interest and alternative revenue-based remedies. These proceedings involve different laws, parties and remedies from the Dutch GDPR fine (settlement documents; Seventh Circuit opinion). |
What this means for people whose images may be involved
Depending on where a person lives and which law applies, they may have rights to request access to personal data, ask for deletion, or complain to a privacy regulator. The available rights, deadlines, exemptions and enforcement routes differ between the GDPR, UK law, Canadian statutes, Illinois BIPA and other US state laws. No single Dutch order guarantees deletion everywhere.
For a specific request or potential claim, contact the relevant data-protection authority or obtain advice from a qualified lawyer in the applicable jurisdiction. A company’s statement that it no longer offers a service in a region does not, by itself, resolve historical processing or outstanding regulatory orders.
The precise takeaway
Clearview AI was fined €30.5 million by the Dutch regulator for GDPR violations involving personal and biometric data connected with people in the Netherlands, along with failures concerning transparency, access rights and an EU representative. “$33 million” is a rounded conversion, and “declared illegal” is an overbroad description of a qualified administrative finding—not a worldwide criminal judgment or universal ban. As of the public record available through August 18, 2026, collection of the fine has not been established.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
