Apple receives Senate inquiry on Face ID privacy concerns

Despite trying to assuage fears its new facial recognition technology, known as Face ID is safe and secure, Apple has received an inquiry from the U.S. Senate about just how safe it really is. In a letter addressed to Apple CEO Timothy D. Cook, Sen. Al Franken, D-MN, notes that while details of the highly-anticipated iPhone X, which uses Face ID and its unlocking capabilities are still emerging, he is "encouraged by the steps that Apple states it has taken to implement the system responsibly." Despite that, some questions still remain. "However, substantial questions remain about how Face ID will impact iPhone users' privacy and security, and whether the technology will perform equally well on different groups of people," the former "Saturday Night Live" cast member turned politician wrote in the letter. "To offer clarity to the millions of Americans who use your products, I ask that you provide more information on how the company has processed these issues internally, as well as any additional steps that it intends to take to protect its users."