Meta has announced Facebook Verified, a new optional system that allows users to obtain an authentication badge on their profile. The goal is to counter the growing number of bots and fake accounts generated by artificial intelligence. The process is based on a face scan via a video selfie, similar to the setup of Apple's Face ID.
Facial recognition as an authentication tool
To get the badge, users must record a short video selfie. Meta compares the images with existing profile photos to confirm a match. The entire procedure is free, optional, and takes just a few minutes. Meta emphasizes that this is a simple method to ensure there is a real person behind a profile, in an era where AI makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish real from fake.
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A free badge to fight bots and deepfakes
The Facebook Verified badge, which resembles a checkmark, will appear in various areas of the platform: profile, Marketplace, Dating, and Groups. In the future, Meta plans to extend it to Feed posts. The company stated: 'As AI makes it easier to generate content, profiles, and messages, we want to provide a way for you to know there is a real person on the other side of a profile.' Users are already skeptical about AI usage, as highlighted in a recent article about AI-driven homepages from Netflix and Prime Video.
Requirements and age restrictions: only adults in good standing
To qualify for Facebook Verified, users must be at least 18 years old and comply with the platform's community standards. Meta has not specified whether the badge will be visible to other users or only to the profile owner, but it likely serves as a trust tool in social interactions.
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Privacy implications and user reactions
Introducing facial scanning raises privacy concerns. Although Meta assures that biometric data is not stored, the practice is often criticized by security experts. According to the facial recognition system on Wikipedia, biometric technologies can pose privacy risks if not handled properly. It remains to be seen whether users will welcome this novelty or view it as another step toward excessive control.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/24/facebook-announces-face-scanning-to-confirm-youre-a-human
