TLDR: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against Evolv Technologies, alleging the company made false and unsupported claims about its AI-powered Evolv Express security screening systems. The FTC states Evolv deceptively advertised its scanners would detect all weapons, ignore harmless items, and be more accurate, efficient, and cost-effective than traditional metal detectors, particularly in school settings. The settlement bans Evolv from making such claims without sufficient evidence and requires them to offer certain K-12 schools the option to cancel their contracts.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has initiated action against Evolv Technologies, a prominent provider of AI-powered security screening systems, for allegedly making deceptive and unsubstantiated claims regarding the capabilities of its Evolv Express scanners. The FTC’s complaint asserts that Evolv misleadingly marketed its systems as capable of detecting all weapons, including guns, bombs, and large tactical knives, while simultaneously ignoring harmless personal items like laptops, binders, and water bottles without requiring their removal from bags or pockets.
According to the FTC, Evolv also falsely advertised its AI-driven technology as being more accurate, efficient, and cost-effective than conventional metal detectors. Specific claims included promises of reduced false alarm rates and significant labor cost savings, purportedly up to 70%, by minimizing the need for additional personnel. The company’s marketing materials even suggested the creation of ‘weapons-free zones’ or ‘safe zones’ through the deployment of their Express scanners.
However, the FTC’s investigation revealed discrepancies between Evolv’s claims and the actual performance of its systems. Instances were cited where Evolv Express scanners reportedly failed to detect weapons in school environments, including one case in a New York school where a knife reportedly bypassed the system, leading to a stabbing incident. Conversely, the systems were found to frequently flag innocuous personal items. The FTC’s complaint highlighted that Evolv’s technology is fundamentally similar to a metal detector, primarily identifying metallic objects, despite the company’s public insistence on a ‘weapon detection’ distinction over a ‘metal detector.’
Evolv Express scanners are widely deployed across various venues, including thousands of schools (over 800 schools in 40 states, constituting half of Evolv’s business), sports stadiums, hospitals, and even Walt Disney World. The cost of these systems can be substantial, with typical contracts running into tens of thousands of dollars annually, reportedly five times the cost of traditional metal detectors.
Samuel Levine, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC, emphasized the commission’s stance on technological claims: ‘The FTC has been clear that claims about technology – including artificial intelligence – need to be backed up, and that is especially important when these claims involve the safety of children. If you make those claims without adequate support, you can expect to hear from the FTC.’ Michael Atleson, a senior staff attorney for the FTC, further elaborated on the scope of Evolv’s claims, stating, ‘They made a number of different claims over time on their website and in other marketing materials, including claims that their Evolv Express product would create weapons-free zones or safe zones… They made claims about the accuracy of the product and its ability both to detect all weapons and ignore all personal items and to allow people to walk into venues without having to remove anything from their bags.’
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As part of a settlement, Evolv has been prohibited from making any of the challenged deceptive claims unless and until it possesses sufficient evidence to substantiate them. While the settlement did not involve an admission of wrongdoing or monetary penalties, it mandates Evolv to notify specific K-12 school customers and provide them with a 60-day window to cancel their existing multi-year contracts. Evolv, in a press release, stated that the FTC’s inquiry focused on historical marketing materials rather than the core efficacy of its AI technology, affirming its commitment to refine its marketing to better highlight capabilities and limitations. The STEM School Highlands Ranch, a user of Evolv’s system, acknowledged the issue, stating, ‘We acknowledge that Evolv overpromised its AI capabilities, and we appreciate the FTC for bringing this issue to light.’
