Individual Action
FTC v. Evolv (Deceptive AI Security Claims)
In the Matter of Evolv Technologies, Inc.
Where it stands
The FTC announced a proposed consent order on November 26, 2024 resolving charges that Evolv falsely claimed its AI-powered Express scanners detect 'all weapons' while ignoring harmless items, and made unsupported claims about accuracy, throughput, false-alarm rates, and a 70% labor-cost reduction. The order lets schools that signed contracts between April 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 cancel them, and bars Evolv from unsubstantiated claims about 'algorithms, artificial intelligence, or other automated systems.'
Key ruling
Consent order barring misrepresentation of detection capability, accuracy, speed, labor savings, and testing results. Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levine: 'Claims about technology – including artificial intelligence – need to be backed up, and that is especially important when these claims involve the safety of children.'
Note on this record
Regulatory action, not a class action. It is the direct regulatory counterpart to the private securities class action In re Evolv Technologies Holdings, Inc. Securities Litigation (settled for $15 million). The FTC press release does not state a matter/file number; over 800 schools in 40 states had deployed the scanners.The record
- Court
- Federal Trade Commission (administrative), with related filing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- Case number
- Docket number not established
- Filed
- 2024-11-26
- Defendants
- Evolv Technologies, Inc.
- Plaintiffs
- Plaintiff class not established
- Technology at issue
- Evolv Express AI-powered weapons-detection screening systems
- Relief sought
- Injunctive relief, contract-cancellation rights for affected schools, and prohibitions on unsubstantiated AI performance claims
Claims pleaded
Sources (2)
- FTC Takes Action Against Evolv Technologies for Deceiving Users About its AI-Powered Security Screening SystemsFederal Trade Commission · 2024-11-26
- FTC Settles Case Against Provider of AI-Enabled Security SystemsCovington & Burling LLP (Inside Global Tech) · 2024-12-18
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