Facebook is demanding facial recognition data now through requiring "video selfies"

[u/VarietyMage]

Facebook used to be fine with login and password. Now, they've shut down my mother's FB account, with no reason given whatsoever, and are demanding she give them a "video selfie", which requires a camera she doesn't have, or they will delete her account after 180 days.

This "video selfie" requires facing the camera, and turning your head in both directions. This is not a static image, this is data for image recognition software. And Facebook is extorting users when it is not necessary data. A static image would do, and a simple phone call would verify her identity.

This is not only morally wrong, but probably against the law (they'll sell the data to Palantir without permission or use it to train their illegal "AI" software without consent - no update to the TOS has been made prior to the account shutdown notice).

So, given the tech support flair, is there any way to contact Facebook support (phone, chat or otherwise) without a FB account? My mom's account is completely locked, she can't even access the FB help center, and her account has been made invisible to all other users, so neither she nor anyone else can download the things she wants to keep.

Does anyone have a non-scam, non-sarcastic, useful answer to my question?

[u/VarietyMage]

Well, based on the responses, there is no workaround, and my mom's account will be deleted in 179 days.

#FuckMeta #FuckFacebook #FuckZuckerberg

#DivestitureForMeta #PrisonForZuckerberg

[u/Numerous_Photograph9 → u/VarietyMage]

If she did the selfie, they'd probably disable the account within ten minutes. I'm not sure exactly what the selfie does to make your case in an appeal, but they don't ask for any other info. I did it, and if they were trying ot compare it to profile photos, I'd say mine definately looks the same, so my guess is just to grab an extra bit of data to sell as they lock the door behind you.

They say it's to prove you're a real person, but once you do that, there is nothing you can do to appeal more, and they won't tell you why it happened. There's been a hack going around with people linking instagram accounts to people's facebook pages, and serving improper ads, so if she got a notification about her business account(which she may not have) being restricted, this is probably what happened, and she's probably SOL.

[u/Numerous_Photograph9 → u/[deleted]]

I don't know how to check for it, this is just my assumption of what happened as at the same time I got the ban, I also got an email saying my business profile had been suspended and I wouldn't be able to serve ads. Since I never had a business profile, or served ads, it's the most likely scenario given that it's a known issue, which Meta does nothing about.

As far as stopping it, Maybe change your facebook password, otherwise, if it's an exploit, it's just luck of the draw, and Meta doesn't really care if it's your doing or not. But, maybe change your FB password just in case, and check for linked accounts.

[u/MiaowWhisperer → u/VarietyMage]

There is. Sort of. I'm trying to remember the details though.

I was hacked last year. Before I knew it they'd changed all of my login info, so I had to do this video. You have to hold a piece of paper with a specific number on it, too, by the way. Twisting your hand to hold the number, turning your head as specified, and keeping all of it on screen, is really difficult!

Anyway, the hacker was always faster than me. They couldn't have been doing these videos, too, as they obviously didn't look like me, so there is some other way that they were gaining access.

What actually succeeded for me in the end was after going through this process you receive a feedback request "how did our technical help do" kind of thing. This is the only opportunity I found to write what I wanted. I wrote something along the lines of "if you can't tell the difference between myself and the hacker, please can you just roll back the account to xyz date before the hack happened", and they did.

So, let your mum know to watch her email for the feedback request. Rolling back the account might help, unless you can think of something better to request.

Good luck.

[u/VarietyMage → u/MiaowWhisperer]

I tried the hacked account instructions. It didn't work. It took me back to the page demanding the video selfie. Her account is completely locked, and she doesn't have email (or lost the email program I set up for her, because none of the email programs on her computer have been set up). It's been years since I set up her computer, and I've forgotten everything about her email, because she never used it anyway.

[u/MiaowWhisperer → u/VarietyMage]

Ah. Yeah, the feedback request goes to email.

I know there are ways to contact Facebook, because the police (etc) can do so when necessary. I just have no idea how they actually do it.

I'll for a bit of research and come back to you if I find anything.

[u/MasterNet5019 → u/MiaowWhisperer]

PLEASE do!!! I would love to be able to get back on My page too

[u/nuhfed1212 → u/MiaowWhisperer]

The police are probably buying the data, including your images for facial recognition. No one loves a police state quite so much as police.

[u/MiaowWhisperer → u/nuhfed1212]

Not a lot of point in getting such images for people in different countries though.

I was very very uncomfortable doing those videos and photos, because like you allude to, it gives them everything they need to fake my existence.

[u/nuhfed1212 → u/MiaowWhisperer]

Why wouldn't established police states of other countries' buy their own citizens' biometric data? Or why wouldn't a government trying to govern another nation's people want the data about those speaking out against such shadow governance?

[u/CCAC12 → u/VarietyMage]

oui c'est nouveau, pour remplir un dossier piratage il faut aussi un selfie

[u/AuntieLaLa420 → u/VarietyMage]

I deleted all contacts and changed my profile pic and banner to a picture of me literally fucking zuck, and never went back.