Facebook is working on facial recognition identity verification

According to Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane), the company is working on facial recognition identity verification by asking users to take a selfie looking in different directions.

Facebook Facial Recognition wongmjane Twitter

Keeping our online accounts as secure as possible is something we should all strive for. Keeping your online data locked down means fewer chances of identity theft and real damage to your overall life. Facebook is now working on a new way to confirm its users’ identity, facial recognition identity verification.

According to Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane), the company is working on facial recognition identity verification by asking users to take a selfie looking in different directions. It’s much like Apple Face ID where the software will map out your face and make a sort of faceprint that is attached to your account.

This is how Facebook’s Facial Recognition-based Identity Verification looks like. It asks me to look at several directions within the circle. It explicitly states no one else will see the video selfie and will be deleted 30 days after the confirmation. The reason why I described it as “facial recognition” is the feature recognizes my face as a face. I’m not referring to the tech that associates a face with an identity.

Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane)

facial recognition identity verification Facebook
Screenshots courtesy of Jane Manchun Wong via Twitter.

According to Wong, Facebook says it will delete the facial recognition data after 30-days but we’re sure some privacy advocates might question that. Given Facebook’s and big tech’s track record on protecting user data, it is a valid concern to have.

It is a good idea to keep this in mind for the future. If Facebook moves ahead with its facial recognition identity verification, it will likely be a mandatory step in having an account. So some people may end up having to decide if staying on the platform is worth it to them or not.


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