Microsoft has announced the launch of Face Check, a new facial recognition feature for its Entra Verified ID identity verification service. Face Check is designed to enable businesses and organizations to perform highly secure identity checks while protecting user privacy.

The new facial recognition feature provides real-time facial matching between a user's selfie and their identification documents, such as a passport or driver's license. With the support of Azure AI services, Face Check can match real-time images with an individual's verified credentials to confirm their identity before granting access to sensitive information or services.

Importantly, Face Check only shares facial matching results and confidence scores with the verifying organization. The user's actual selfie or biometric data is not stored or transmitted, helping to protect privacy while conducting identity verification.

Microsoft states that Face Check can help businesses reduce identity impersonation and fraud when granting privileged system access to employees. Currently, leading cybersecurity service desk provider BEMO and other customers are using this feature to securely verify employees before granting administrative access.

Face Check differs from more controversial facial recognition systems used for unauthorized surveillance or investigation. As a voluntary method of identity verification, Microsoft emphasizes that Face Check aligns with its responsible AI principles regarding privacy and transparency.

The facial recognition feature of Entra Verified ID is now available for public preview. Microsoft plans to establish more verification partnerships and attributes in the future to develop Entra into an open standard-based identity verification platform.

As incidents of identity fraud supported by artificial intelligence continue to rise, facial recognition is aimed at finding a balance between enhancing security and addressing ethical considerations around biometric technology during business digital transformation. Its privacy-focused approach helps mitigate the risks associated with facial analysis becoming a common method of identity verification.