Meta's recent implementation of a video-selfie identity check on Facebook is drawing widespread user backlash, as described in a recent Substack article. While intended to accelerate account recovery and block impersonation, the system appears to be locking out countless legitimate users with little recourse.
Facebook's official help pages explain that users may be asked to record a short selfie video, moving their head in multiple directions, so Meta can confirm identity and detect "fake videos." But the real-world user experience results in many people being locked out and losing their accounts.
Long-time users report being funneled into endless loops of selfie resubmissions—with no alternative option to submit a government ID, and no direct access to human support.
In my own case, my account was flagged after inviting a friend; soon afterwards my account was suspended and the only option presented was the selfie check. Even after I tried creating a new account and using a different computer, the system invoked the same verification trigger. User communities are full of similar anecdotes:
The article describes the extent of the problem and includes dozens of complaints about the system.
Compounding frustrations, security experts point out that while biometric checks may raise the barrier for fraud, they are far from fool-proof. Fraudsters are already deploying tools to spoof selfie checks, while real users with older devices, poor lighting, or accessibility constraints often fail the verification process.
Meta says the selfie videos are encrypted, and facial data used only for matching purposes. Nonetheless, the lack of transparency about failure rates, the absence of reliable human support, and the one-size-fits-all automation raise concerns among digital-rights advocates and everyday users alike.
Until Meta offers clear human escalation paths, better fallback options, and transparency about how the system flags accounts, the video-selfie verification remains a precarious experience for many.
You can read the full article on Substack at https://gini.substack.com/p/facebooks-face-off-how-facebooks
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Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D. is the author of over 50 books with major publishers and has published 250 books through her company Changemakers Publishing and Writing (http://www.changemakerspublishingandwriting.com). She writes books, proposals, and film scripts for clients, and has written and produced 18 feature films and documentaries, including Conned: A True Story and Con Artists Unveiled¸ distributed by Gravitas Ventures. (http://www.changemakersproductionsfilms.com).