Other Why doesn't Apple allow you to teach FaceID an alternate appearance with your mask on?

[zorinlynx]

I was just thinking how convenient it would be to be able to teach FaceID my mask-wearing face. It should be able to still get a decent amount of uniqueness from the spacing of my eyes, the shape of my forehead, etc. and I'd be able to unlock the phone with a mask on.

Such a mode might come with a warning that security might be reduced somewhat, and maybe require a "full face" unlock at least once per day to keep working?

Just a thought. It's bizarre that the most Apple has done for mask-wearers is just to bring up the passcode keypad faster.

 

[MisterMillz]

That’s an interesting question to think about, but I also don’t think the space between your eyes and forehead are enough data points.

Furthermore, what if what was covering your face wasn’t a mask but say a hand or material that wasn’t placed there by you? Could get dicey and/or dangerous real quick. Better safe than sorry.

 

[nrvna76]

I’m sure it’s being discussed, but it’s not typical Apple style. We are just the bunch to ask for that, including the reduced security around it, and then complain if the reduced security results in something bad. And the bad press that comes with it likely isn’t worth it to Apple.

 

[Apple_Robert]

It would be a security breach to allow such, in my opinion.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I wouldn't be interested in Apple doing anything more than making the passcode screen come up faster..

 

[zorinlynx]

I wouldn't be interested in Apple doing anything more than making the passcode screen come up faster..

Anything like this would ideally be optional, with clear warnings about any reduced security. Nobody would be forcing anything on you.

Think about people who have to wear a mask all day while working and use the phone as part of their work. If that were the case for me I'd probably pick up an SE2!

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Anything like this would ideally be optional, with clear warnings about any reduced security. Nobody would be forcing anything on you.

Think about people who have to wear a mask all day while working and use the phone as part of their work. If that were the case for me I'd probably pick up an SE2!

I get it but I don't think Apple foresaw a situation where wearing a mask was going to be reality when they developed faceid.. If they knew pandemics were going to fill our future I'm sure they would of really pressed forword with developing an excellent under screen touchid implementation and never released faceid...

 

[gnasher729]

As a legitimate user, you think "I want unlocking my phone to be as easy as possible". As a criminal, you would think "I want to be able to unlock _your_ phone". So for security, Apple MUST think "I want unlocking the phone to be impossible for someone who is not the legitimate user". Making FaceID recognise you with a face mask is easy. The hard part is to make FaceID _not_ recognise me instead of you.

 

[konqerror]

Apple has to test and comply with false-positive requirements due to Apple Pay. These are set by banks via the EMV CDCVM and biometrics standards. Those are further required by laws like EU PSD2.

Because of the money at stake, it's not something easy or quick to change.

 

[akash.nu]

Anything like this would ideally be optional, with clear warnings about any reduced security. Nobody would be forcing anything on you.

Think about people who have to wear a mask all day while working and use the phone as part of their work. If that were the case for me I'd probably pick up an SE2!

These people survived without Face ID until literally 3 years ago. So they would be fine for now, if that means no security compromise. Most people don’t read or care about on screen messages anyway.

 

[pbonitati]

That’s an interesting question to think about, but I also don’t think the space between your eyes and forehead are enough data points.

Furthermore, what if what was covering your face wasn’t a mask but say a hand or material that wasn’t placed there by you? Could get dicey and/or dangerous real quick. Better safe than sorry.

Agree! This would certainly lessen security by a huge margin, especially if you have a five head LMAO!!!

 

[joeblow7777]

I was just thinking how convenient it would be to be able to teach FaceID my mask-wearing face. It should be able to still get a decent amount of uniqueness from the spacing of my eyes, the shape of my forehead, etc. and I'd be able to unlock the phone with a mask on.

Such a mode might come with a warning that security might be reduced somewhat, and maybe require a "full face" unlock at least once per day to keep working?

Just a thought. It's bizarre that the most Apple has done for mask-wearers is just to bring up the passcode keypad faster.

Presumably because it would be way less secure. Your ID would be based on far fewer unique data points. Much greater chance of false positives, ie. other people being able to access your phone. It's like asking why Apple doesn't allow for a 2 digit passcode.

 

[MisterSavage]

It would be a security breach to allow such, in my opinion.

I agree. They don't give you the option to have a 2 character pin code if you want less security and want to take the risk.

 

[44267547]

Your forehead and eyes or any shape there-of is not nearly secure enough. It takes one person to be able to bypass that with a mask on and then you have a whole fiasco of Apple being accused of lessening their biometric security detail because of the ‘forehead and eyes‘. Could it work? Yes. Is it something Apple would willing to risk? Absolutely not. Not the way they value [privacy and security] for the user.

 

[Abazigal]

Anything like this would ideally be optional, with clear warnings about any reduced security. Nobody would be forcing anything on you.

Think about people who have to wear a mask all day while working and use the phone as part of their work. If that were the case for me I'd probably pick up an SE2!

Apple is about making what they feel is the best decision for their users, not flooding them with options and leaving it up to the user.

You are basically asking Apple to make their phone less secure and I don’t think that is something they will ever agree to.

 

[alpi123]

The less area of the face they scan, the less secure FaceID would be.
That's like asking Apple to allow 2 digit only passwords instead of 4 minimum.

 

[ssledoux]

Can’t you still turn passcodes off completely? Can you turn off Face ID? Honestly I’ve never even looked to see if you could.