Highlights

• Meta is testing instant facial recognition for recovering locked Instagram and Facebook accounts.
• It will allow users to verify their identity quickly.
• Facial recognition will also be used to detect and block fraudulent ads with celebrity faces.
• Meta is shutting down Instagram and Threads accounts that track private jets.

Often many users find themselves getting locked out of their Instagram or Facebook accounts.

It can happen for various reasons such as forgetting login details, losing access to a two-factor authentication device or even a hacker changing the password.

In such cases, users will have to prove their identity and verify the locked account belongs to them.

Regaining access to the locked account can be slow and frustrating at times since identity verification is still a manual process. Many users have complained that Meta takes too long to respond.

Now it appears Meta is finally addressing this issue and regaining access to your locked-out Instagram or Facebook account will be getting easier in the future.

Instant Facial Recognition to Recover Instagram or Facebook Accounts

As per a recent post on its newsroom, Meta announced that it is testing a feature to allow users to unlock their accounts using facial recognition.

Here’s what we know.

In the current system, users are sometimes asked to submit a video selfie to verify their identity. However, the review work is manual, which takes time.

Meta is now testing an instant recovery feature, which will be powered by facial recognition technology. With this feature, users would take a short video moving their head just like registering for Face ID.

If the system confirms the match, access to the locked account will be given instantly.

However, Meta’s demo shows that users can choose between automatic recognition or a manual review. This means if some users prefer not to use facial recognition, they will have the option to opt out.

Meta also assures users that the video data is deleted immediately after the verification process is completed.

“As soon as someone uploads a video selfie, it will be encrypted and stored securely. It will never be visible on their profile, to friends or to other people on Facebook or Instagram. We immediately delete any facial data generated after this comparison regardless of whether there’s a match or not.” Meta mentions in a post.

Facial Recognition to Detect Celeb-Bait Ads and Impersonation

Photos of public figures and celebrities including content creators are often used to bait people into engaging with ads.

This also leads to scam websites where users are tricked into sharing their personal information or even scam for money.

Meta is planning to utilise the same facial technology technology to detect fraudulent ads with celebrity faces. “If our systems suspect that an ad may be a scam that contains the image of a public figure at risk for celeb bait, we will try to use facial recognition technology to compare faces in the ad to the public figure’s Facebook and Instagram profile pictures. If we confirm a match and determine the ad is a scam, we’ll block it,” Meta revealed in a post.

Meta Bans Private Jet Tracking Accounts

In a separate move, Meta finally takes action on private jet tracking accounts flooding its platforms.

Celebrity tracking on social media is a menace. Many accounts on Instagram and Threads keep track of celebrity movements including where they are flying to and coming from, which can be both intruding and security risk.

Meta has finally addressed this and is reportedly shutting down Instagram and Threads accounts that are dedicated to tracking private jets.

In a recent TechCrunch report, Meta said, “Given the risk of physical harm to individuals, and in keeping with the independent Oversight Board’s recommendation, we’ve disabled these accounts for violating our privacy policy.”

Some of the accounts deleted used to regularly share flight details of Taylor Swift, Bill Gates and the head of Meta himself, Mark Zuckerberg.

A college student named Jack Sweeney who operates a flight tracking account confirmed the Meta action on his personal handle. Sweeney has previously faced pushback from other platforms as well.

Sweeney’s X (previously Twitter) handle @ElonJet account tracking Musk’s flights was suspended in Late 2022. He also reportedly was slapped with a cease-and-desist letter by Taylor Swift’s lawyers saying, “While this may be a game to you, or an avenue that you hope will earn you wealth or fame, it is a life-or-death matter for our Client.”

Flight tracking was made a little harder after the Biden administration allowed private aircraft owners to keep flight registration data anonymous.

However, Sweeney claims that his research along with the many tips he receives makes celeb flight tracking still possible.

What Sweeney Has to Say

Sweeney criticised Meta in a letter for not providing any warnings and explanation before suspending those accounts.

What makes this more troubling is that I’ve received no communication from Meta—no warnings, no explanation.

Reporters have reached out to Meta for clarification, but so far, there’s been silence.

No matter the intent, this situation reflects poorly on Meta. Across platforms like X and Threads, I’ve had a total of 38 accounts suspended.

The behavior is consistent: these platforms operate without transparency, and it feels like they make arbitrary decisions.

X, for example, continues using the same tactics as the old Twitter; the only difference now is who’s in charge.

Ironically, Elon Musk, who once criticized Twitter for its lack of free speech, is now using the very same techniques—shadow-banning jet-tracking accounts and blocking links to public information that tracks his jet.

It’s just a different form of suppression, rather than outright bans.

FAQs

Q1. How is Meta improving the process of recovering locked Instagram or Facebook accounts?

Answer. Meta is testing instant facial recognition for quick and secure account recovery.

Q2. How will the new instant recovery feature work?

Answer. Users will take a short video moving their heads, and if the system confirms the match, access to the locked account will be given instantly.

Q3. What other use of facial recognition is Meta planning to implement?

Answer. Meta will use facial recognition to detect and block fraudulent ads with celebrity faces.

Q4. What action is Meta taking against private jet tracking accounts?

Answer. Meta is shutting down Instagram and Threads accounts that track private jets due to privacy concerns and risks to individuals.

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