Adding to options such as fingerprints and passwords, Google is introducing a new way to sign into your account – selfie videos.
Google says that the thinking behind this new sign int method is to make it easier to access your account if you are locked out of your account, and if you don’t have your phone available. It also serves as just an interesting additional way to sign in.
Announcing the new security feature, Google says: “Your Google Account holds a lot of valuable information, from cherished photos to important emails and documents. We always want to make sure that information is private, secure, and readily available to you, which is why we recommend setting up multiple sign-in methods. Today, we’re adding a new way to sign in: selfie video”.
Going on to talk about how to set up and use selfie video, Google says:
Setting up a selfie video is simple: You just look at your device’s camera and complete a few short, guided head movements to capture multiple angles.
If you’re having trouble signing in later on, you just take another selfie to get back into your account. Selfie video compares the new video to the one you set up to confirm it is really you and help you get back into your account.
There will be privacy and security concerns for many people with this new option, but Google says: “Your selfie video is yours and you’re in control. It is recorded and securely stored with your consent, and you can delete it at any time in your Google Account. It’s used only for helping you sign in, unless you opt to share it for additional purposes. Your selfie video is encrypted at rest, meaning it’s securely stored even when it’s not being used”.
The company adds:
When you use a selfie to sign in, we use multiple layers of security to help prevent impersonation attempts like fake photos and videos (i.e., deep fakes). For example, we match your video against your saved selfie and require you to perform simple movements to prove it’s a live video. We also use our standard security practices to detect and help prevent suspicious sign-in attempts.
Not all Google accounts are eligible for video selfies, but you can check – and get started – over at g.co/signin-selfie.