Every day, countless Google accounts are shut down and the legitimate owners lose access. Now Google is introducing a new way that natural persons can probably regain access to their blocked account (account recovery): selfie videos.
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If you want to have this option up your sleeve, you have to upload a selfie video of yourself in advance. Google requires certain head movements to record the user’s face from different angles and make deepfakes more difficult.
If the account is blocked, the user must face the camera again and move his head again according to the instructions. Google’s system then compares the new recording with the old one. If there is a sufficient match, Google will let the user back into their account.
Afterwards it will be too late
The data company promises to only use the stored selfie video for login purposes unless the account holder agrees to any other use. Users can delete their selfie videos at any time, but then of course they lose the associated function.
As I said, the selfie video must be stored in advance, i.e. while you still have account access. Once account access is lost, it is too late. Google accounts can be blocked for various reasons, even if the user still knows their password. Either because third parties tried to gain access or because Google’s security systems incorrectly assume this. Such false positives are a particular nuisance, especially since there is zero support from Google, not even for paying customers.
However, selfie videos are not available for all personal Google accounts. Attempts by the editorial team with two accounts in different countries failed due to an error message: “Selfie isn’t available as a sign-in option for this account.” (“Selfie is not available as a login option for this account.”) The error message does not give a reason for this.
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