Evolv claims it can detect all weapons
US-based company "Evolv" known for selling artificial intelligence (AI) scanners, claims it detects all weapons.
However, the research firm IPVM says Evolv might fail in detecting various types of knives and some components and bombs.
Evolv says it has told venues of all "capabilities and limitations." Marion Oswald, from Government Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation said there should be more public knowledge as well as independent evaluation of the systems before they are launched in the UK.
Because these technologies will replace methods of metal detection and physical searches that have been tried and tested.
Raised Concerns
AI and machine learning allow scanners to make unique "signatures" of weapons that distinguish them from items like computers or keys, lessening the need for preventing long queues in manual checks.
"Metallic composition, shape, fragmentation - we have tens of thousands of these signatures, for all the weapons that are out there. All the guns, all the bombs, and all the large tactical knives," said Peter George, chief executive, in 2021. For years, independent security experts have raised concerns over some of Evolv's claims.
The company in the past didn't allow IPVM to test its technology named Evolv Express. However, last year, Evolve allowed the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4).
NCS4's public report, released last year, gave a score of 2.84 out of 3 to Evolv- most of the guns were detected 100% of the time.
IPVM's private report shows loopholes
However, it also produced a separate report (private), received via a Freedom of Information request by IPVM. The report gave Evolv's ability to identify large knives 42% of the time. The report said that the system failed to detect every knife on the sensitivity level noticed during the exercise.
The report recommended full transparency to potential customers, on the basis of the data collected. ASM Global, owner of Manchester arena said its use of Evolv Express is the "first such deployment at the arena in Europe," it is also planning to introduce technology to other venues.
In an unfortunate incident in 2017, a man detonated a bomb at an Ariana Grande concert in the arena, which kille22 people and injured more than hundreds, primarily children.
Evolv's Response
Evolv didn't debate IPVM's private report findings. It says that the company believes in communicating sensitive security information, which includes capabilities and limitations of Evolv's systems, allowing security experts to make informed decisions for their specific venues.
We should pay attention to NCS4's report as there isn't much public information as to how Evolv technology works.
