The Facebook company, now called Meta, is shutting down the Face Recognition system on Facebook and will delete over a billion people’s saved faces. Face recognition is used to analyze the photos and videos they think you're in on Facebook, such as your profile picture and photos and videos that you’ve been tagged in, to make a unique number for you, called a template. Then, when you turn your face recognition setting on, Facebook creates your template and uses it to compare to other photos, videos, and other places where the camera is used (like live video) to recognize if you appear in that content. More than a third of Facebook’s daily active users have opted into the platform's Face Recognition setting. The company also noted that making this change required careful consideration, mentioning that there are places where face recognition can be highly valued by people using platforms. Ending the use of Facebook's existing Face Recognition system means the services it enables will be removed over the coming weeks, as will the setting allowing people to opt into the system. Meta has announced new updates to its Teen Accounts program, expanding safety features for young users across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. Read more in our articles including "Facebook shuts down Face Recognition system, deletes over a billion saved faces" and "Meta strengthens teen protections across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger".
The Facebook company, now called Meta, is shutting down the Face Recognition system on Facebook and will delete over a billion people’s saved faces. Face recognition is used to analyze the photos and videos they think you're in on Facebook, such as your profile picture and photos and videos that you’ve been tagged in, to make a unique number for you, called a template.
Then, when you turn your face recognition setting on, Facebook creates your template and uses it to compare to other photos, videos, and other places where the camera is used (like live video) to recognize if you appear in that content. More than a third of Facebook’s daily active users have opted into the platform's Face Recognition setting. The company also noted that making this change required careful consideration, mentioning that there are places where face recognition can be highly valued by people using platforms.
Our coverage of Facebook Face Recognition includes: "Facebook shuts down Face Recognition system, deletes over a billion saved faces"; "Meta strengthens teen protections across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger"; "Meta introduces Plus subscriptions for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp". Each article provides unique insights and information.