Facebook to shut facial recognition system and delete 1bn ‘faceprints’

Firm says decision is in response to growing concerns over software that identifies users in photos and videos

Facebook will delete the faceprints" of more than a billion people after announcing that it is shutting down its facial recognition system due to the many concerns" about using the technology.

The social media network has been under political, legal and regulatory pressure over its use of the software, which automatically identifies users in photos and videos - and let's them know if a fellow user has posted a photo or video with them in it - if they have opted in to the feature. In a statement, Facebook's parent company, Meta, said it would shut down facial recognition on the platform over the coming weeks and delete 1 billion facial recognition templates.