No to masked FaceID

I told iOS 15.4 I don’t want it to recognise my face while I’m wearing a mask.

I trust  and their privacy-enhancing implementation of masked FaceID – using Secure Enclave, in this case – and I don’t love the often-tinfoilish surveillance capitalism rhetoric. However, I do think there are valid ethical reasons to reject facial recognition that bypasses masking.

The risk isn’t Apple leaking data: it’s us collectively accepting that machines should be able to recognise us from just half a face / our eyes / our gait / etc etc. That’s a premise worth challenging, at least. I won’t passively contribute to a norm that could draw us closer to real harm.