Update: New facial recognition software is being added to facebook.

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Update (01-09-2011) - Please read the Original Note if you are unfamiliar with this topic.
For the last month or so the settings for "Suggest photos of me to friends" had been "Greyed Out" within my facebook privacy settings. However, today without notice this particular feature has been activated. Since this is a "Opt-Out" feature, I suggest everyone take a few minutes to check your facebook privacy settings and adjust the settings on this feature to your liking. It is possible the feature may still not be activated on your account yet, but it never hurts to checks. Directly below the original note about this feature is a brief tutorial on how to access the settings for it..

Original Note (12-19-2011)

In recent days Facebook has announced that it will be releasing a new and very controversial feature. Facebook is set to roll out a new automated photo tagging feature or facial recognition software. It will become available in the US first and then to the rest of the world in the coming months.

Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos states: "While this feature may be appealing for those Facebook users that are keen to share every detail of their social life with their online friends, it is alarming to those who wish to have a little bit more anonymity."

The addition of facial recognition software will basically mean, Facebook will be able to match your face in a photograph once you've been tagged and then offer your friends the option of tagging you in others. It's not a completely automatic process, because the option to tag will be given as a suggestion, but you will be identified by default unless you opt out. If you are tagged in a picture by one friend, this new feature will mean you will then run the risk of being identified by Facebook to other friends. This would be true for even for people who don't use Facebook or choose not to identify themselves in uploaded photos.

If you are not willing to be part of this new feature you need to make sure you opt out when it becomes live. It is very important that you keep on top of these types of new features and make sure that you check your privacy settings often to ensure that you are not sharing too much personal information online.

For more information please visit the link below.

Automatic photo tagging: Facebook friendships get creepier

http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2010/12/17/facebook-friendships-get-creepier/

Tutorial - How to access the "Suggest photos of me to friends" privacy settings.

This brief tutorial shows you how to adjust the "Suggest photos of me to friends" privacy settings. Click on each picture to enlarge it if you have problems reading the text shown in the pictures.

1. From your facebook home page click on the Account link.

2. When the Account menu opens, click on "Privacy Settings".

3. On the Choose Your Privacy Settings page, under the heading "Sharing on Facebook" click the "Customize Settings" link.

4. On the "Choose Your Privacy Settings--> Customize settings" page, under the heading "Things Others Share", next to the "Suggest Photos Of Me To Friends" setting, click the "Edit Settings" button.

5. The "Photos: Suggest Tags" dialog box will open. Read the information contained in this dialog, then "Enable Or Disable" the feature by selecting the proper option with your mouse. Finally click the "Okay" button to save your changes.

About Black Knight

I am a computer repair technician with over 15 years experience and have been computer security and information privacy enthusiast for the last 4 years. I've helped literally thousands of individuals fix their issues by offering help through various blogs and Facebook pages. I like teaching myself and others new things, and believe in freely sharing knowledge.