Meta brings its anti-fraud facial recognition test to the UK after getting a thumbs up from regulators

Core Insights - Meta is expanding its facial recognition tools in the UK after initial tests, aiming to combat scams and assist users in account recovery [1][2][3] - The company has engaged with UK regulators to gain approval for the rollout, reflecting a broader acceptance of AI technologies in the region [3][6] - Public figures in the UK will receive notifications to opt-in for the new facial recognition features, which include "celeb bait" protection and video selfie verification [4][5] Group 1: Facial Recognition Tools - Meta's facial recognition tools are designed to prevent scams using the likenesses of celebrities and to help users regain access to compromised accounts [1][2] - The company emphasizes that facial data generated for ad comparisons is deleted immediately and not used for other purposes [5][6] - The expansion of these tools comes as Meta is heavily investing in AI across its business operations [6][7] Group 2: Regulatory and Legal Context - The UK expansion follows Meta's previous legal challenges, including a $1.4 billion settlement over biometric data collection issues related to facial recognition [9] - In 2021, Facebook discontinued its long-standing facial recognition tool due to regulatory and legal pressures, although it retained its DeepFace model for future applications [10] - The current approach of addressing immediate issues on its platforms may help Meta gain acceptance for its facial recognition features [8]