Facial recognition is here. The iPhone X is just the beginning | Clare Garvie

Apple's new smartphone will unlock using face recognition, thanks to infrared and 3D sensors. This technology is spreading - and complacency is not an option

I have a confession to make. I'm a privacy lawyer who researches the risks of face recognition technology - and I will be buying the new iPhone.

Apple's next generation smartphone will unlock using face recognition, thanks to infrared and 3D sensors within its front-facing camera. Reports indicate that the face scan and unlock system will be almost instantaneous and require no buttons to be pressed, being always "on" and ready to read your face. Android users can expect similar face unlock features as well.