WhatsApp face unlock now avaialable for Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro

The Pixel 8 App lock feature has been introduced to enhance user privacy and security
An Undated image of girl using face recognition on Smartphone. —Unsplash
An Undated image of girl using face recognition on Smartphone. —Unsplash 

WhatsApp, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform, has levelled its security service with the latest update for Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users.

Along with the Face Unlock feature for payments, Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users can now unlock WhatsApp's face with the Face ID feature. Earlier, Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 pro users could only use the fingerprint feature to unlock the messaging app, now WhatsApp has introduced face support unlock.

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The Pixel 8 App Lock feature has been introduced to enhance user privacy and security. The Pixel 8 face unlock upgrade meets Android's highest biometric standard level (Class 3). Google credits advanced ML algorithms and Tensor G3 for making this upgrade possible. Face Unlock Pixel 8 rolled out with WhatsApp version 2.23.8.85, but there is also a server-side component.

This feature requires biometric authentication before displaying messages. On launching the app, the system face unlocks sheet will appear at the bottom of the screen with a ring around the Pixel 8 front camera. If the feature fails to recognize the face or the face is not visible, the screens will automatically return to the Pixel 8 fingerprint prompts after a few seconds.