Meta plans to add age verification technologies to Facebook Dating to prevent minors from accessing the app.
To identify if a user is lying about their age, they will be asked to upload an identification document. In this route, the documents will be checked by both automatic systems and humans.
As for privacy matters, the tech giant assured that the file would be encrypted and stored away from the public eye. Furthermore, Facebook stated they would keep the ID for at least one year before removing it.
Meanwhile, the other option is to upload a video selfie that shows the user’s face. In this alternative, the tech firm will send the file to a third party for verification.
Moreover, Facebook teamed up with Yoti, a company that uses AI technology to confirm age by scanning facial features. Accordingly, the AI tech firm will delete the images after the process is complete.
However, privacy and consumer advocacy groups raised some concerns over these methods. In particular, they pointed out the procedure that involves IDs, calling it risky and invasive. Additionally, the French data protection authority warned that such systems could be easily bypassed.
Nevertheless, the California-based company will push the tool in the US and plans to expand globally in the future.
Meta to Remove News on Facebook
On Monday, Meta threatened to remove news on its platform if the US Congress approves the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act. This move came following the reports that lawmakers are considering passing the bill to help local news firms.
Under the proposal, news companies would have an advantage in negotiating the terms of content distribution online. Before this, the News Media Alliance urged Congress to support the bill, arguing about the disadvantages the local industry faces.
However, dozens of groups warned about the possible antitrust issues that could arise if the act was approved. Similarly, Meta noted that the agencies benefited the most from the deals, not the other way around.
