Facebook is up in its game in providing high-tech features for its users. Recent reports reveal that Facebook is said to release a new "Photo Magic" tool that will scan through the pictures of its users' and suggest which photos to share.
Independent UK reports that "Photo Magic" is a tool that will be integrated with Facebook Messenger that aims to help people find old pictures and share them with people that are in the picture. For this to happen, Facebook needs to scan all photos of its users in their cameras.
The users need to allow Facebook Messenger access their cameras so that "Photo Magic" tool would work. Most probably, users have already allowed the tech giant access as soon as they see a pop-up that asks them to share the picture.
More so, on Android system, the app scans the pictures as soon as they are taken and shows a notification that suggests users to send the photo to the people found in the picture. Meanwhile on iOS, the process is said to be a little slower since Apple is more restrictive in allowing an app access to the device..
A Facebook spokesman said that the "optional new feature" is designed "to make sharing photos in messenger even easier and more fun" as reported by The Guardian.
"Sending photos of friends, and particularly groups of friends, is still too complicated. With Photo Magic, Messenger recognises your friends in the photos you take and enables you to share your pictures with the friends in them in just two taps."
Of course, users have the option not to allow the feature to run or to turn off notifications.
It was confirmed by Facebook Messenger boss David Marcus that the feature was on a test run in Australia. The feature will then be rolled out in United States soon after. However, it is highly unlikely that it will come to the United Kingdom or the rest of Europe.
Facebook's first attempt to introduce facial recognition in 2011 was not approved by the Irish data protection authority. It was not until 2014 for the "Tag Suggest", the initial facial recognition feature, to return to European shores. Although it is now allowed, the feature has limited use; Europeans can use the feature to tag US users who happen to have it turned on, but can't set Facebook to automatically recognise other Europeans.
Will you allow Facebook access to your camera rolls and private photos? Do you think this feature will be allowed in EU? Let us know how you feel by leaving your comments below.
