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2024criticalSecurity/Public Safety

FTC v. Evolv Technologies (Weapon Detection)

System Description

AI-powered security screening system marketed for detecting weapons in schools and public venues

Authoritative Output Type

Weapon detection alerts used to clear individuals for entry to schools and events

Missing Required State

Validated detection accuracy, false negative rate disclosure, testing against real-world threat scenarios

Why This Is SAF

System was marketed as capable of detecting weapons with high accuracy in schools, but BBC investigation found significant detection failures; FTC alleged company made unsubstantiated claims about weapon detection capabilities

Completeness Gate Question

Has this security screening system been independently validated for weapon detection accuracy in real-world conditions?

Documented Consequence

~$10.5M FTC settlement, prohibited from making unsubstantiated detection claims, required to have scientific evidence for future claims

Primary Sources

Notes

- **Verified**: 2025-12-19 - **Ftc Action Date**: December 2024 - **Settlement Amount**: ~$10.5M - **Notes**: System deployed in schools; detection failures raised serious child safety concerns

Prevent this in your system.

The completeness gate question above is exactly what Ontic checks before any claim gets out. No evidence, no emission.