COLUMBUS, Ohio — Evolv Technology, a company providing AI-powered weapons detection systems to schools across the United States, is facing scrutiny after a recent Federal Trade Commission ruling.
The company's scanners, used in over 800 schools across 40 states, including Columbus City Schools, have been accused of making unsupported claims about their effectiveness.
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"... the FTC alleged that Evolv’s Express scanners failed in several instances to detect weapons in schools while flagging harmless personal items typically brought to schools, like laptops, binders and water bottles. For example, Evolv’s Express scanners reportedly failed to detect a seven-inch knife brought into a school in October 2022 that was used to stab a student. Afterwards, school officials increased the system’s sensitivity settings, prompting a 50% false alarm rate," according to an FTC press release on Nov. 26.
In 2023, Columbus' East High School unveiled Evolv's high-tech machines, with the company claiming detailed conversations about their system's capabilities and limitations.
However, the FTC has found that Evolv deceived users about its artificial intelligence-powered screening system.
Under a settlement order, the FTC has banned Evolv from making unsupported claims about its products' ability to detect weapons using AI.
Evolv responded to the allegations, stating in part:
"While Evolv disagrees with the FTC's allegations, and has not admitted any wrongdoing, it has chosen to resolve the matter to focus on its core mission of protecting lives through innovation and maintaining the trust of its valued customers."
Mike Ellenbogen, interim president and CEO of Evolv Technology, said, “We worked collaboratively with the FTC to resolve this matter and are pleased that the FTC did not challenge the fundamental effectiveness of our technology and that the resolution does not include any monetary relief. We appreciated the opportunity to demonstrate for the FTC our Evolv Express system and our customers’ diligence in researching, testing and ultimately deploying our solution in myriad environments."
10TV contacted Columbus City Schools to find out if they will continue to use the machines.
"Since our implementation February 2023, it has reduced the number of guns collected or attempting to be brought in to our high schools by students and visitors as this was the #1 concern. To date, we do not have any record of any guns that have been brought into our high schools or detected after processing through the EVOLV systems. We continue to update the software and features provided and made available to us to include different settings that have allowed us to detect some additional unwanted items that were not appropriate in a school setting. We believe that the weapons detection system provides our district another layered approach to our security processes," said a school spokesperson.
You can read Evolv Technologies' full statement here.