Facebook is testing face scanning for logins

Facebook is testing facial recognition technology as a way to verify users locked out of their account. The feature is designed as an alternative to the text or email verification tools used to reset passwords and is currently being tested on a 'small number' of users.

Confirming the trials, a Facebook spokesperson told TechCrunch, “We are testing a new feature for people who want to quickly and easily verify account ownership during the account recovery process. This optional feature is available only on devices you’ve already used to log in."

The social network is the latest to embrace facial recognition for security purposes. While Apple is bringing the technology to its new iPhone X, Samsung Note 8 already has it.

But don't think this is Facebook's first tryst with the technology. The social network has been using facial recognition technology for years in its tag suggestions. When you upload a photo, Facebook scans the image to try and detect faces it recognises from your friends' profiles, before suggesting a tag.

Facebook had previously tested a system of giving users between three and five ‘trusted contacts’. In the event that they were locked out, Facebook would send a code to be forwarded to the user so they could log back in.

Last year, Facebook purchased FacioMetrics, a facial recognition software firm, in a push to integrate the technology into the platform.