Google Demands Video Selfies for Account Recovery

Google has introduced Selfie Video Sign-In, a new feature aimed at making account recovery easier for users. The feature requires users to record a short video of their face from different angles, which is then stored on Google's servers.

The recording can be used by Google to verify the user's identity and age, according to the company. If a user needs help recovering their account, they may be prompted to take another selfie video, which will be compared with the saved recording to confirm their identity.

Google says that it encrypts the video recordings and allows users to delete them at any time through their Google Account settings. However, critics have raised concerns about the potential use of facial recognition technology for targeted advertising or other purposes.

Selfie Video Sign-In was first announced by Google in July and is currently available on some accounts, but not all. The feature is meant to supplement traditional password-based authentication methods, rather than replace them entirely.