The technology used behind facial recognition is relatively standard nowadays with a wide array of use. Detecting criminals via pixelated CCTV footage to unlocking smartphones is among its use cases. But the pros & cons of facial recognition technology remain counteracting.

Facial recognition technology is not sci-fi fantasy anymore. Today, we have cheaper home appliances that stores users' image and matches them with a live one to verify. In other words, image recognition is a lighter version of facial recognition, but works at an economic level.

Advanced security: Advanced biometrics aims to provide the best protection. Password & authentication are losing their popularity to biometrics. Even though we can't replace passwords yet, biometrics are used in high-tech systems to keep personal data within the barrier. Facial recognition data also uses encryption, making it harder to extract and manipulate the device. It is also compatible with most of the security software we have today.

Improved accuracy: Facial recognition is more accurate than other digital biometrics. We've been pushing our fingers too hard on the fingerprint sensor while taking services that require it. In some situations, validating fingerprints can get tricky, while facial recognition is fast. As face ID tech is becoming more reliable every day, its success rate jumps. Developers now use 3D images against facial scans rather than traditionally stored photo scans to make the portfolio heavier.

Reduced touchpoints: We require fewer human resources and interaction in facial recognition. There is no need for direct physical contact or human interaction, but AI can automate the process and make the experience seamless. From unlocking smartphones to tag photos, finding photos in the cloud, or finding individuals from a crowd of people, facial recognition reduces touchpoints pretty effectively.

Privacy breach: Yes, we have cons to consider in facial recognition even though the tech made our lives easier. One of the biggest drawbacks of facial recognition is its capacity to threaten individuals' privacy. Several cites considered banning real-time facial recognition surveillance use by law enforcement—Cambridge, San Francisco, and Massachusetts, to name a few. Even though the government can track down criminals easily, it can hamper the privacy of regular people with continuous tracking. The technology brings considerable benefits to the table non-arguably, but it can easily breach privacy rights if not used relatively.

Data storage: Like passwords and authentication files, facial recognition data is stored as binary. But the binary is much more complex in comparison, resulting in huge file sizes. Services offering facial recognition for verification go the extra mile as they need tons of storage to house machine learning data, algorithms, and binaries.

Imperfect technology: Facial recognition isn't a perfect tool (yet). There is a saying in cybersecurity. No platform is 100% secure. It takes time to find a loophole. And the case is no different from facial recognition. It is not as effective as identifying people in rare cases. For criminal charges, that can be devastating. If the software identifies someone improperly, it can result in critical life decisions. On the other hand, people are experimenting with the tech and exploiting camera angles, lights, and specially made 2D masks, 3D images to fool the system.

Facial recognition technology would be far too powerful if used correctly; still, the pros & cons of the technology has to live side by side with other security measures. Because it enhances security, tracks trespassers, and its quicker ways of verification, made it too brilliant for us not to utilize in everyday life. But we may need a few more years to perfect the technology and comply with privacy advocacies, laws and human rights regulations. With time, challenges are sure to decrease and will one day, become a thing of the past.