In the current digital age, personal privacy is facing significant challenges. While modern technologies like Face ID are becoming increasingly easy to use, there are growing concerns and doubts about how they are using our personal data. Social media platforms, especially those that use facial recognition technology, which is capable of identifying people through their photos, are having an impact on people’s privacy. Some platforms have the ability to identify users’ photos without their permission, which puts them at risk of revealing their details without them having to provide any information.
Face ID search is the process of identifying people based on their photos. This allows the photo used to be compared with photos available on any social media or the internet, and the details of that person can be found. This can be useful in some cases – for example, in law enforcement and missing persons cases. However, the same technology also has a high potential for misuse. It can be used for activities such as fake accounts, doxing, and tracking.
From the perspective of ordinary users, they are losing complete control over their privacy when they post their photos on social media. Once a photo is online, it can be used in any way – sometimes without the person’s consent. Meanwhile, there are allegations that some companies and apps are using Face ID to identify people and use their data for commercial purposes.
The lack of proper laws regarding this technology is still creating further obstacles to personal privacy. The lack of clarity about how users’ photos and videos are stored and used is increasing fears among them. In this context, governments and organizations must take appropriate measures to protect privacy rights. The use of Face ID technology must be responsible, while at the same time implementing controls that protect people’s privacy.
In this era of such technology, people also need to be vigilant about their personal data. We need to be careful about what photos we post on social media and who can see them. Knowing how we present our identity in the digital world is the first step to protecting our privacy.
In this context, Face ID search technology is likely to have some key implications for the future. The ability to recognize people’s faces and trace their social media profiles is leading to control beyond privacy. Using a simple photo, it is possible to know where a person works, who they are friends with, and what their hobbies are. While this is a tool that provides extensive information on the one hand, it is also becoming a threat to personal freedom on the other.
However, as this technology grows, public awareness is also growing. Many social media users are already implementing strict privacy settings on their accounts. There are discussions at the international level seeking control over the use of face recognition technology. Some countries have already banned the use of face recognition technology or introduced laws that impose restrictions. This can provide some reassurance to ordinary citizens.
Also, there are many questions related to the ethics of this system. Is collecting information based on a person’s face without their consent an appropriate action for a system based on what values? Is this respecting individual rights? Experts suggest that while technological development is welcome, it should be used to protect human values and the dignity of individuals.
Finally, in cases where the risks of using our identity online based on Face ID outweigh the benefits, people will change their digital behavior. A clear understanding of who to share their photos and videos with, when to post them, and which platforms to trust is necessary. This is key to personal security and privacy.
Moreover, Face ID search technology has the potential to pose a greater risk not only to ordinary people but also to celebrities. Since they post many photos on the Internet, it becomes very easy to recognize their faces. This creates situations where they can be tracked wherever they go. Sometimes, people who are not actually related can be mistakenly identified and false information can be spread. This can not only damage reputation, but also lead to legal problems.
Some tech companies are also collecting users' face data without permission and using that data as training data, which poses a major threat to human rights. Many people are in a state of not knowing where their photos and data are being used, and who is accessing them. This is a kind of blatant digital exploitation. In this context, there is an even greater need for people to be conscious about how to protect their data and which apps and websites to trust.
A two-step solution can be suggested to solve this problem. The first is strong laws. Governments need to enact strict laws to hold tech companies accountable. Second — consumer awareness. Everyone needs to understand the value of their data and take steps to ensure they have full control over their privacy. There is no need to completely reject technology, but it is imperative to guide it in a way that aligns with our moral values.
In this digital world where our face has become our identity, it is our responsibility to know who is using it and how, and to be able to control it. If technology is to do us good, it must also be used responsibly. Otherwise, it will become a dangerous tool that gradually erodes our freedom.
Looking deeper, the way Face ID-based search technology is evolving is also having an impact on the nature of human relationships. While in the past, recognizing and meeting each other was done through direct contact, now we can learn a lot about them with just a photo. This may seem like an advantage to some, but it also has the potential to damage trust and mutual respect between us. At the individual level, we are gradually losing control over who we talk to and what details we share with whom, and machines are making those decisions.
Facial recognition technology is already being used in some Chinese cities to track citizens’ behavior, as part of a “social credit score” system. Similar developments are at risk worldwide. This is not just a privacy issue, it is a form of control over freedom. Our behavior, our thoughts, our own decisions—all of these—are subject to a form of scrutiny. This poses a risk of standing in the way of fundamental freedoms in a democracy.
And the underlying technological unintended consequences such as fake news and deepfakes have also become more dangerous when combined with Face ID technology. The practice of taking someone’s photo and combining it with other videos to create false news or spread hateful propaganda is increasing day by day. This is leading to psychological stress, trolling, and violent online psychological harassment.
Therefore, a humanitarian perspective is very necessary before legal regulation of this technology. No matter what stage the technology is in, it should proceed in a way that respects human rights. Measures such as obtaining the consent of the person when using Face ID-based systems, transparently announcing privacy policies, and providing users with full rights over their data should be taken immediately.
This is not just the responsibility of governments. As ordinary citizens, we also need to determine in which direction we should shape technology. We should take steps ourselves, such as reading the privacy policies of the apps, websites, and social media platforms we use, adjusting the necessary settings, etc. Our face, our identity—they should belong to us. We should be able to determine who uses them and how.