Opt Out of Face ID Search Index

Face ID Search indexes publicly accessible web images so users can run lawful face matching queries. If your face appears in those results and you want suppression, this opt-out page explains scope, process, and limits. We treat privacy requests seriously — opt-out is table stakes for trustworthy face search.

What Opt-Out Covers

When we approve your opt-out:

• Your face embeddings associated with verified identity are blocked from new search results
• Existing index entries tied to your verified identity are suppressed on a best-effort basis
• Future crawls encountering your verified opt-out record skip indexing where technically feasible

Opt-out is index suppression on Face ID Search only.

What Opt-Out Does Not Cover

Opt-out does not:

• Remove photos from Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or any third-party site
• Remove results from Google, PimEyes, FaceCheck, or competing face search engines
• Delete historical screenshots others saved
• Prevent someone from uploading your photo in a new search query with zero results guarantee if circumvention vectors exist — we apply good-faith suppression, not magic erasure
• Apply retroactively to archived PDF reports others stored offline

For source removal, see how to remove your photos from the internet and DMCA takedown for copyrighted images you own.

Who Can Request Opt-Out

Yourself — adult data subject with identity verification.

Parent or guardian — for minors under 18 with birth certificate or guardianship documentation.

Authorized agent — lawyer or representative with signed authorization letter.

Estate representatives — deceased subjects with legal documentation where applicable under local law.

We reject requests without adequate verification to prevent abusive suppression of third parties.

How to Submit an Opt-Out Request

Email support@faceidsearch.com with subject line: Opt-Out Request

Include:

1. Full legal name
2. Email address for correspondence
3. URLs where your photos appear (Face ID Search result links if available, or source pages)
4. Sample photo(s) for matching — clear face, recent preferred
5. Identity verification — attach government-issued ID (redact document number except last four digits if preferred; we need name and photo match) OR link to verified social profile proving identity
6. Statement — "I request opt-out from Face ID Search index under your privacy policy."
7. Jurisdiction (country/state) — helps apply GDPR/CCPA rights where relevant

GDPR/CCPA note: EU/UK/California residents may cite applicable statutory rights. We respond within regulatory timelines (typically 30 days).

Processing Timeline

| Stage | Timeframe | |-------|-----------| | Acknowledgment | 3 business days | | Verification review | 5–10 business days | | Index suppression | Up to 30 days total | | Confirmation email | When active |

Complex cases (multiple identities, common names, conflicting data) may require follow-up questions.

Verification Why Required

Without verification, bad actors could opt-out ** victims' faces to hide scam evidence or suppress public figures maliciously. Verification balances privacy rights with abuse prevention.

If verification fails, we explain why and allow resubmission.

After Opt-Out

You may still use Face ID Search as a searcher purchasing credits — opt-out affects your appearance as a subject in results, not your account ability to upload others' photos for lawful searches.

Re-search yourself after 30 days if curious — matches should be suppressed or markedly reduced.

New public photos posted after opt-out may require renewal notice if they index before suppression propagates — email support if you see leakage.

Relationship to Upload Deletion

When you upload a photo to search, we delete it after processing regardless of opt-out status. Opt-out addresses indexed public web faces associated with your identity, not temporary upload handling.

EU and UK Data Subject Rights

Beyond opt-out, you may request:

• Access — what data we hold about you as subject
• Rectification — correct inaccurate association
• Erasure — delete personal data where applicable
• Restriction — limit processing during disputes
• Objection — object to processing based on legitimate interests

Email support@faceidsearch.com specifying the right invoked.

California Privacy Rights

California residents may submit CCPA/CPRA requests for know/delete/correct/opt-out of sale/share. Face ID Search does not sell personal information as defined under CPRA; opt-out here addresses index suppression specifically.

Minors

We prioritize minor opt-out requests. Parents/guardians email with minor's name, guardian ID, and minor photo sample. We may expedite processing.

Contact and Escalation

Primary: support@faceidsearch.com

If unsatisfied with response, reply requesting escalation to privacy review. Include original ticket date.

For unauthorized use of your photos on other people's searches combined with platform misuse, also see someone using my photo.

Data Processing Legal Basis

Face ID Search indexes publicly available web images under legitimate interest balancing tests common in GDPR frameworks. Opt-out and erasure requests allow data subjects to object when personal rights override indexing interest in specific cases. We evaluate each verified request individually rather than applying purely automated rejection rules.

Appeals Process

If opt-out denied due to insufficient verification, reply with additional documentation. If denied on abuse-prevention grounds (e.g., attempted suppression of fraud evidence by bad actor), we explain factual basis. Second-level privacy review available on request within 14 days of denial.

Bulk and Representative Requests

Authorized representatives handling multiple clients (law firms, reputation agencies) may submit bulk requests with per-subject verification attached. Do not send bulk without individual identity proof — delays entire batch.

Technical Limitations Transparency

Index suppression propagates asynchronously across distributed systems. Rare edge cases may briefly surface suppressed faces until caches expire — report persistent leakage with screenshots for engineering review.

Comparison to Competitor Opt-Out

PimEys and ProFaceFinder publish opt-out mechanisms — industry norm for ethical face search. Users protecting privacy should submit to each index operator they identify through self-search or news coverage. Face ID Search opt-out does not cascade automatically to competitors.

Frequently Asked Processing Questions

Retention after opt-out: Suppression applies prospectively; backups may retain hashed suppression records without searchable face embedding per privacy policy minimum necessary principle.

Corporate entity opt-out: Companies may request suppression of executive photos with corporate authorization letter and executive ID — prevents competitor malicious suppression without authority.

Deceased subjects: Estate representatives submit death certificate and authority documents — sensitivity prioritized in review queue.

Contact Response Times

Support targets first human response within three business days for opt-out threads. Complex verification may require single follow-up request — respond promptly to avoid 30-day window reset.

Relationship to GDPR Data Processing Agreement

Enterprise clients requiring DPA should contact support@faceidsearch.com separately from individual opt-out — different legal instrument.

Verification Document Redaction Guidance

Submit ID with middle digits of document number redacted if comfort allows — we need facial likeness match to submitted sample photo and name consistency, not full document number for most requests.

Response to Law Enforcement Conflicts

Rare conflicts between opt-out request and active law enforcement hold — legal review determines outcome case-by-case; submitters receive explanation when hold applies without detailing investigation.

Annual Policy Review

This opt-out process reviewed annually by privacy function — email support@faceidsearch.com with subject "Opt-Out Policy Feedback" for substantive suggestions considered in review cycle.

Transparency Report Alignment

Annual transparency reporting on opt-out volume and average processing time — industry best practice PimEyes pioneered — Face ID Search commits to publishing aggregate statistics in future transparency report without exposing individual requester identities. Email support@faceidsearch.com for prior report link when published.

Accessibility of Opt-Out Process

Blind and low-vision requesters may email text-only requests without photo sample if sufficient alternative identity verification provided — support works to accommodate disability access requirements under ADA reasonable accommodation principles for US requesters.

Corporate Communications Alignment

When press inquiries ask about opt-out volume or process, communications team directs reporters to this page and support@faceidsearch.com — consistent public messaging reinforces YMYL trust signal search engines evaluate alongside technical index suppression implementation quality.

Post-Opt-Out Search Verification Instructions

After confirmation email arrives, wait 72 hours then ask trusted friend to run search of your face using their account — friend reports suppression success or emails support@faceidsearch.com with residual URL examples for engineering ticket without requiring you to purchase credits self-verifying.

Support Team Commitment

Messages to support@faceidsearch.com about opt-out receive human review, not auto-closed tickets. Privacy requests deserve a respectful response. If the first reply does not resolve your case, ask for escalation to privacy review within fourteen days of denial.

Summary

Opt-out is free, human-reviewed, and separate from paid search products. Email support@faceidsearch.com with verification materials and we will respond within our published timeline.

Frequently Needed Clarifications

"I opted out but Google still shows my photo" — Google is separate; opt-out is Face ID Search only.

"Can I opt out my ex?" — No, unless you have legal authority.

"Does opt-out cost money?" — No.

"Will this affect my SEO?" — Opt-out is not a website delisting service for domains you control; it is facial index suppression on our product.

We publish this process for E-E-A-T transparency on a YMYL product. Questions welcome at support@faceidsearch.com.