The FTC has accused Evolv of making deceptive claims about its Evolv Express scanners' ability to detect weapons and differentiate harmless personal items in school environments.
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Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Evolv is prohibited from making unsubstantiated claims about its product's weapon detection capabilities.
Moreover, the settlement allows certain K-12 schools to opt out of their existing contracts with Evolv, which typically entail multi-year commitments.
Samuel Levine, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, emphasized the need for accurate claims in technology, particularly when child safety is at stake. "If you make those claims without adequate support, you can expect to hear from the FTC," Levine stated.
The FTC's complaint outlined that Evolv misleadingly marketed its Evolv Express scanners as more accurate, efficient, and cost-effective than traditional metal detectors. The company's promotional materials claimed the scanners could contribute to resolving the issue of weapons in schools.
Evolv's Express scanners are deployed in over 800 schools across 40 states, representing half of the company's business. The complaint highlighted instances where the scanners failed to detect weapons, including an incident in October 2022 when a seven-inch knife was not detected and was used in a school stabbing.
Following this event, the school adjusted the system's sensitivity, which led to a 50% false alarm rate.
In response to the need for improved detection, Evolv introduced a more sensitive setting in 2023, aiming to better identify knives. However, the company acknowledged that some knives might still go undetected, leading to more false alarms and potentially requiring additional staff to operate the scanners.
Evolv also suggested schools implement measures such as conveyor belts to manually divert harmless items, a practice similar to those used with less expensive traditional metal detectors.
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