Facebook's new facial recognition app 'Moments' will not be launched in Europe

Facebook's new app Moments will not be launched in Europe as the company fears that European regulators will object to its use of facial recognition.

Facebook-Moments-App-for-iOS-Photo-AFP

Facebook's new app Moments will not be launched in Europe as the company fears that European regulators will object to its use of facial recognition.

According to The Verge, Facebook launched Moments earlier this week.

The app uses facial recognition technology to dig up forgotten snaps of friends from camera roll.

Facebook's head of policy in Europe, Richard Allan said that there was no 'opt-in mechanism' so it is turned off till the time they develop one.

Allan said that regulators had told them to offer an opt-in choice to people.

European regulators' dislike of facial recognition is well-established, with Facebook previously forced to withdraw the technology for European users on its main site in 2012 after an audit by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner.