Apple reveals jaw-dropping 'face data' technology

iPhone X face data.
(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/China Plus News)

Apple announced the rollout of its "face data" technology on Tuesday, expanding the horizons of personal security, emoji customization, and how identical twins can troll each other.

"FaceID," which is available with the iPhone X (pronounced "ten"), recognizes users by projecting thousands of tiny, invisible dots on their faces when they look at their phone. The technology is so specific that there is only a one-in-a-million chance that a random person can pick up your phone and "unlock" it with their own face (with TouchID, on the current iPhone models, that chance is more like 1 in 50,000).

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.