UAE users can now recover their hacked Facebook and Instagram accounts using face recognition
There is good news for Facebook and Instagram users staying in the UAE. Meta has recently launched a new feature, which uses face recognition technology to protect users from online scams and help them recover their hacked Instagram and Facebook accounts.
What is this new system?
Meta has built a system that can find fake ads on social media. These ads usually edit celebrity photos to make people click on scam websites or spam websites. This trick is called ‘celeb-bait’, where scammers try to steal users’ personal data or money.
Meta’s new system compares images in such ads with the profile photos of public figures on Facebook and Instagram. If it finds something suspicious, the ad is removed automatically with immediate effect.
Public figures get automatic protection
Meta said that public figures in the region are automatically included in this face recognition protection. But, they can choose to opt out if they want.
This step is part of Meta’s bigger plan to stop scams that use famous people’s images to fool users.
Video selfie for hacked accounts
Meta has also started a new feature – video selfie verification. If someone’s Facebook or Instagram account gets hacked, they can now upload a short video selfie to prove their identity. The system will check the video with their profile photo, similar to how people unlock their phones.
According to Meta, this method is faster and safer than using documents. It helps users get their accounts back quickly and makes it harder for hackers to cheat the system.
User privacy is safe
Meta made it clear that the face data used during verification will be deleted right after the process. It will not be saved or used for anything else. All data is protected with encryption during the process.
Meta’s statement
Basma Ammari, Director of Public Policy for MENA at Meta, said, “Using someone’s image in scams is not only wrong, it can also cause emotional and financial harm. We have received reports from both public figures and normal users in the MENA region.”
She added, “That’s why we are using technologies like face recognition to stop these scams early. We are also improving our verification tools so users can recover their accounts quickly.”
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