Gmail new feature: Google is bringing a new ‘selfie video’ recovery tool. In case you forget the password, it will verify your identity by comparing a new video with the previously saved video. This is an optional feature that users need to set up first.
Gmail password recovery: Forgetting your Gmail password can be frustrating, especially if you don’t have a recovery phone, computer, or even a two-factor authentication app. Google is now bringing a new tool ‘Selfie Video’, which will make it a little easier to log back into the account. This feature lets you prove your identity by making a short selfie video instead of traditional methods.
Google says that the selfie video is to help those who are unable to log in to their account. This is being brought as an optional recovery tool for Google account users. So, the next time you get locked out of your account, Google might ask you to make a short selfie video to prove your identity before you can log in. But for this you will have to set-up this option first.
How does this feature work?
To use this feature, you’ll need to set it up if you have access to your Google Account. During set-up, Google will ask you to make a short selfie video. For this you have to look into the camera of your device and follow some simple instructions given on the screen, like turning your head or making light gestures. This video will be your ‘reference video’.
Once the video reference is set, the next time you can’t use your regular sign-in methods or forget your password, Google will ask you to create another short selfie video. The system will then verify your identity by comparing this new recording to the reference video saved in your account.
According to Google, the movements in the video are important because they ensure that the recording is genuine and not just a picture or a pre-recorded video.
Can also identify deepfakes
Keeping in mind the deepfakes created by AI, Google claims that it has added multiple levels of security in its new video authentication system. Apart from comparing your new selfie video to the reference video, this feature will also check whether there is a real person in front of the camera or someone is using fake photos, edited videos or AI generated faces.
The company says that it has integrated selfie verification with its existing security system. These systems can examine things like a person’s device, browser settings, IP address, location, and even detect if the log-in attempt is unusual. The selfie video feature is gradually being rolled out to Google Account users across the world.