The Face of Surveillance: Dating Apps’ New Normal

The recent trend of dating apps requiring face recognition as a form of verification may seem like a necessary evil in the war against romance scams and fake accounts. However, beneath this surface lies a more insidious threat to our online privacy and security.

Dating apps are scrambling for solutions to combat the growing problem of AI-generated fake accounts. Tinder’s mandatory Face Check tool is just one example of this trend. But with every liveness check, 3D authentication, or biometric ID scan, users sacrifice a piece of their identity – and potentially open themselves up to more risks.

The irony is palpable: in an attempt to combat the problem of fake accounts, Big Dating is creating a new standard where proof of humanity may soon be required for participation. This raises questions about what exactly this means: are we trading one set of security risks for another?

Tools for Humanity’s World ID system uses iris-scanning biometric verification, which has raised more questions than answers. The promise of a “verified human” badge and the assurance that no data is retained or shared may sound reassuring, but experts warn against normalizing face scanning as a means of trust.

Katie Moussouris, a cybersecurity researcher, points out that these ID systems are largely “security theater.” A face scan does not guarantee identity or age, and an ID scan indicates only that an ID was presented – not necessarily that it belongs to the rightful owner. Moreover, faces are highly susceptible to manipulation using AI tools.

The precedent set by biometric verification on dating apps is a slippery slope. Woodrow Hartzog, a technology law professor at Boston University, warns that “when we get accustomed to having our face scanned for everything we do online, it becomes really dangerous… Facial recognition is the most dangerous surveillance tool ever created.”

Existing privacy laws are woefully inadequate to deal with this new reality. Utah’s State-Endorsed Digital Identity law is one of the few attempts to regulate biometric data collection, but its limitations and loopholes are already being exposed.

For users, the question remains: will we soon be required to surrender our faces as a condition of online participation? And what about the long-term consequences of normalizing face scanning as a means of trust?

As we venture further into the digital age, it’s time to reevaluate the trade-offs made in the name of security. We must demand more transparency and accountability from platforms and policymakers. The risks are real, and it’s high time we took a closer look at the face of surveillance lurking behind every swiping gesture.

The line between convenience and control is thinning by the day. It’s up to us to decide where we draw the line.