Facebook recently announced that it is making its facial recognition feature available to all users, but it will keep an opt-in by default.
“Our face recognition settings not only allow you to manage whether Facebook uses the face recognition technology of your photos to suggest tags; It provides an easy on or off switch for a wider set of uses for face recognition, such as helping you protect your identity on Facebook, writes Srinivas Narayanan, Applied Research Lead, Facebook AI.
Facebook's Facial Recognition setting was first rolled out back in 2017 under the name "Tag Suggestions", when it would only use face recognition technology to suggest its friends' tags in photos. However, now Face Recognition will be turned off by default, and you will be notified of the same in your news feed where you can turn it on if you want. In addition, the notice will include information surrounding new features and options, helping users learn how Facebook encounters identity. If you do not currently have a face recognition setting, Facebook will not use face recognition to identify you or suggest tags. Other features, including photo review that notify you when you appear in the photo even if you are not tagged, will leave you inactive.
Says Narayanan, "We have continued to connect with privacy experts, academics, regulators and people on Facebook. Given that Facebook has received overwhelming response in the past on privacy-related issues, the tech giant's move in the right direction Is growing