Microsoft has announced the launch of a new facial recognition feature called Face Check for its Entra Verified ID identity verification service. Face Check aims to assist businesses and organizations in conducting highly secure identity checks while protecting user privacy. The new Face Check feature can perform real-time facial matching by comparing a user's selfie with the photo on their identification document, such as a passport or driver's license. With the support of Azure AI services, Face Check can compare live images with individually verified credentials to ensure that individuals are who they claim to be before granting access to sensitive information or services. Importantly, Face Check only shares facial matching results and confidence scores with verification agencies. The user's actual selfie or biometric data is not stored or transmitted, which helps protect privacy while confirming identity. Microsoft states that Face Check can help businesses reduce identity impersonation and fraud when granting employees access to privileged systems. The feature is currently being used by clients such as BEMO, a leader in cybersecurity services, to securely verify employees before providing administrative access. Face Check differentiates itself from more controversial facial recognition systems used for surveillance or investigation without consent. As a voluntary method of identity verification, Microsoft emphasizes that Face Check aligns with its responsible AI principles regarding privacy and transparency. The facial check feature of Entra Verified ID is currently in public preview. Microsoft plans to establish more verification partnerships and attributes in the future, aiming to develop Entra into an identity verification platform based on open standards. With the increasing prevalence of AI-driven identity fraud, the goal of Face Check is to strike a balance between enhancing security and ethical considerations of biometric technology, thereby assisting businesses undergoing digital transformation. As facial analysis becomes a more common method of identity verification, its privacy-focused approach helps mitigate risks.