How To Disable Face Id Iphone X

Apps Might Have Too Much Access to Face ID Data on iPhone X

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The new iPhone X comes with a fancy sensor array capable of scanning and recognizing your face. It's all part of the new Face ID system, which replaces Touch ID on Apple's most expensive iPhone yet. The early response to Face ID has been mostly positive, and it does seem to be hard to fool. However, some privacy advocates have expressed concern over how much access apps have to Face ID. It could actually be kind of a privacy nightmare.

The key to Face ID is in the iPhone X's conspicuous screen notch, that patch of bezel that intrudes upon the otherwise edge-to-edge display. That's where Apple has integrated its True Depth camera system. Using a network of 30,000 infrared dots, True Depth builds a highly accurate map of your face, allowing it to recognize you immediately. Apple also developed some fun extras with the True Depth camera like Animojis, live animated emoji based on your facial expressions.

Like Touch ID data, your Face ID biometrics aren't stored online or provided to apps directly. However, apps do have access to some less sensitive Face ID data for features like Animojis. This could end up being a much greater privacy concern than the standard front-facing cameras on other phones.

Third-party apps get access to the 3D wireframe data from the iPhone X True Depth camera system. That means they can track the real-time movements of your mouth, eyes, and even subtle changes in facial expression. That's what makes Animojis so weirdly compelling for iPhone X users — they look alive. There's nothing stopping app developers from taking that data and storing it on a server, which offers vastly more data than a regular photo.

Security analysts worry that apps could use this 3D data to gather more information about a user's vital statistics in a few seconds. You might think you're just playing with a fun new Animoji, but the app might actually be reading your mood, tracking your expressions, and even identifying your gender and race. Those are all potentially valuable stats for advertisers.

After being informed of this potential privacy headache, Apple moved to require apps that use Face ID must have a privacy policy. As Apple itself well knows, no one reads those. Until we know how developers will make use of 3D face data, you might want to be wary of apps optimized for the iPhone X's True Depth tech.