Franken uploaded an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook shortly after the iPhone X was announced on September 12, 2017. In his letter, the Minnesota senator asked a number of questions about the implementation of the technology.
Shortly after, Apple provided more information about Face ID technology in the form of white paper published on the company's website.
Most Apple responses contain the same information as uploaded on the company's website. However, Apple provides little additional details about Face ID technology. Apple explains how to make Face ID software can recognize different people with different faces, gender, and color.
"Accessibility of products to people of different races and ethnicity is very important to us Face ID uses the facial neural network we developed using more than one billion images, including IR and depth of images collected in the study and has obtained approval from participants," clear Apple.
The study participants came from around the world that included representatives from groups of people related to gender, age, ethnicity, and various other factors.
"We expanded the research as needed to provide a high degree of accuracy for various users, and neural networks have also been trained to prevent attempts to unlock the phone using photos or masks," Apple wrote in an explanation.
Apple's response is increasingly confirms the company's move to anticipate the various security and privacy issues Face ID. However, Franken said, it will communicate with Apple on the protection of consumer data in the Face ID system.
"I plan to communicate with Apple, to find out more about the plan to protect consumer data using facial recognition technology on the latest iPhone," Franken said in a statement.
