Facebook Will Delete , Facial Recognition Data , of a Billion People.
Following a large number
of privacy complaints,
Facebook has decided
to shut down its facial
recognition system.
'The Independent' reports that
the site will stop automatically
recognizing people when they
appear in photos and videos.
The marketing for that tool said that
it was for helping tag people in photos
that were uploaded to the social media platform.
However, it also allowed Facebook to build
a huge library of facial recognition data on users. .
In response to complaints, Facebook
said that it would delete that data.
The move means
that over a billion
people’s individual
facial recognition
templates will
be deleted.
According to Facebook, the decision was part of a, “company-wide move to limit the use
of facial recognition in our products”.
Facebook added that moving the data will, “represent one of the largest shifts in facial recognition usage in the technology’s history.”.
Independent points out
that over a third of Facebook users
had opted in to the platform's
facial recognition system.
Facebook said
the decision was
made because of , “growing concerns
about the use
of this technology
as a whole”.
Facebook reportedly said
that it will continue
internal work on facial
recognition technology.
However, the company
said it is committed to engage
with outside experts on the ethics
of implementing the technology.