# PimEyes | **PimEyes** | **Quick Overview** | | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | URL | | | What it does | Searches the web for images of a person using facial recognition. | | How to use it | Upload face, search, then review matches. | | Cost | Partially free. | | Account required | No for basic use. Yes for full functionality. | | Cookies | A mix of functional session cookies and high-level cross-platform tracking cookies. | | Ownership | Owned and acquired by Georgian security scholar & academic Giorgi Gobronidze in 2021, operated through Dubai based company EMEARobotics. | | Use in Reporting | Useful for identification and verification with strict ethical considerations. | ### What does PimEyes do? PimEyes uses facial recognition technology to scan the internet for images that match a submitted face. It identifies visually similar faces across publicly available images, helping users find where a person appears online, even across different contexts or time periods. **The lowdown:** It’s a powerful facial recognition tool for finding where a person appears online, best used for targeted investigations. **Note:** Despite ownership's stance on ethical use, the service has been heavily criticized for potential misuse as "stalkerware" because it allows users to search for anyone’s face. ### How to Use: **1. Upload a clear image of a face and run the search to review matching results.**
**2. Analyse links and sources to verify identity or image usage. You’ll need to upgrade to paid.**
### Cost * [ ] Free * [x] Partially Free * [ ] Paid Free for basic use. Paid subscriptions for full results, links, and alerts. ## Data Processing ### Account Required: * [x] Yes * [x] No No for basic use. Yes for full functionality. ### Cookies: Cookies used are mainly third-party tracking and session identifiers from major platforms (Google, Twitter/X, Facebook), used to manage logins, remember user preferences, and track behaviour across sites. The PimEyes-specific ttcsid cookies handle session tracking and user interaction on the platform, while others (like SSID, UULE, xs) enable cross-site tracking, personalization, and ad targeting. Overall, this is a mix of functional session cookies and high-level cross-platform tracking cookies.
### Use in Reporting PimEyes is useful to: * Identify individuals across multiple online sources. * Verify whether images of a person are authentic or reused. * Track online presence of individuals (journalists, suspects, public figures). * Support investigations into impersonation, fraud, or misinformation. As a real-world example, [PimEyes was used by a journalist to help locate Daniela Klette (RAF fugitive) ](https://pimeyes.com/en/blog/pimeyes-the-digital-detective-redefining-cold-case-investigation)after decades on the run. It’s also [controversially been used by the Met Police](https://www.aiaaic.org/aiaaic-repository/ai-algorithmic-and-automation-incidents/uk-police-found-to-use-pimeyes-raising-privacy-concerns) to help identify suspects or persons of interest. **Note:** It’s a high-risk tool that requires strong editorial and ethical oversight. | **Capabilities** | **Limitations** | | ------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------- | | Advanced facial recognition search. | Ethical and legal concerns around privacy, consent and misuse. | | Finds visually similar faces across the web. | Not always accurate. False positives possible. | | Works even with different angles, lighting, or ageing. | Limited access without payment. | | Can uncover hidden or lesser-known image sources. | Does not confirm identity, only similarity. | | Alerting/monitoring features on the paid version. | Some regions/platforms may block or limit results. | ### Summary PimEyes is most effective in the OSINT workflow during verification and identification, after initial discovery but before deeper analysis. However, it carries significant ethical, legal, and accuracy considerations. ### Ownership PimEyes is owned by [Giorgi Gobronidze](https://www.linkedin.com/in/giorgi-gobronidze-0188b7a2/), a Georgian security scholar and academic who acquired the facial recognition search engine in 2021. The platform is operated through EMEARobotics, a company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ### Ethical Considerations * High privacy impact as can identify individuals without consent. * Risk of misuse (doxxing, harassment, surveillance). * Must comply with data protection laws. * Results should never be treated as definitive identification. * Strong justification required for journalistic use. ### Related Tools: * Yandex Images * [TinEye](/osint-tools/tineye.md) #### Sources . --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://tools.osintnewsletter.com/osint-tools/pimeyes.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.