UK authorities have fined the notorious Clearview AI £7.55m ($9.5m) for illegally removing images of its residents’ faces from social media and the public internet.

The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has ordered the company to stop collecting data from UK citizens and delete all information about them.

“The company not only makes it possible to identify these people, but also effectively monitors their behavior by offering it as a commercial service. This is unacceptable,” said British Information Commissioner John Edwards.

In 2020, the ICO launched an investigation with Australia on Clearview AI. At the end of 2021, the agency fined the company £17m ($21.4m) upfront.

During the final decision, the ICO noted that the company illegally collected more than 20 billion face images to replenish its database.

“Although Clearview AI no longer offers its services to UK entities, the firm has clients in other countries and therefore continues to use the personal data of UK residents,” he said.

The startup appreciated the reduction in the amount of fines, but declared this decision illegal.

“Clearview AI does not fall under the jurisdiction of the ICO and the company does not currently do business in the UK,” Lee Woloski, partner at law firm Jenner and Block, said in a statement.

The startup’s CEO, Hoan Ton-Tet, expressed “deep disappointment” with the agency’s decision.

“My company and I have acted in the interests of the UK and its people by helping law enforcement solve horrific crimes against children, the elderly and other victims of bad faith,” he said.

Recall that in May, Clearview AI agreed to stop selling facial recognition tools to private companies in the US.

In December 2021, the French regulator ordered the company to delete all data from citizens and stop collecting any more.

Clearview AI was banned in Australia in November.