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WhatsApp to Require Face ID or Touch ID When Linking Accounts to Web and Desktop Apps

Pakaku said:
I'm aware of how Apple's biometric stuff works, and even I still get creepy feelings whenever I see apps like these start using that data
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They don’t start ”using that data”. They use the response from you using your biometrics.

”Using the data” would be equivalent to you giving a copy of the key to everyone you opened a padlock for.
 
Not sure how the fact that you've enabled Face ID in WhatsApp allows Facebook to build a better map of you, other than:
Oh, Jeff has Face ID so he's using a phone that has Face ID.

That's it. That's all they can do.

They can already see the exact model identifier of your iPhone, so they already know Jeff has an iPhone 12 Pro Max. The fact he's now turned on Face ID for WhatsApp doesn't give Facebook anything more.
 
amaze1499 said:
The mere fact FaceID technology is being used to unlock, confirms the owners presence. As of now, only one user can use FaceID to unlock the phone. Since its linked with all kinds of identifiers, that information can be matched up and being used to build relationship maps. Thats enough to make a users profiles and relationship maps and more accurate.
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That's not exactly true. Authentication by Face ID confirms the person who set up Face ID has unlocked WhatsApp, not necessarily the owner of the iPhone.

Ah, but it's incredibly unlikely that someone else's face is used to unlock an iPhone, isn't it? Yes, so it's more likely that it is the phone owner, right? Okay, you're with me. So, without Face ID authentication, is it more or less likely that the person who simply launches and uses WhatsApp is the owner of the phone? More likely? Right. So what exactly are Facebook getting from knowing the phone's owner authenticated that they don't already get from someone just using WhatsApp as before?
 
Biometric authentication is 2 factor. It includes a component that ensures that the device you're using supports biometrics, and a component that verifies you are the person holding that device.

The first part can and is used for tracking people.

Apple will soon rollout out 'Anonymous Attestation', but it hasn't yet.

So, once again, Facebook are dicks and are out to get you.

Source: https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2020/10670/
 
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darkpaw said:
That's not exactly true. Authentication by Face ID confirms the person who set up Face ID has unlocked WhatsApp, not necessarily the owner of the iPhone.

Ah, but it's incredibly unlikely that someone else's face is used to unlock an iPhone, isn't it? Yes, so it's more likely that it is the phone owner, right? Okay, you're with me. So, without Face ID authentication, is it more or less likely that the person who simply launches and uses WhatsApp is the owner of the phone? More likely? Right. So what exactly are Facebook getting from knowing the phone's owner authenticated that they don't already get from someone just using WhatsApp as before?
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You are probably right.
 
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