Facebook now wants to use your profile picture in their facial recognition database, and they may be adding a majority of its users to the controversial technology. They also make it clear that the facial recognition technology could be used for 'other' purposes as well.

According to the Guardian, the possible move, which Facebook revealed in an update to its data use policy on Thursday, is intended to improve the performance of its "tag suggest" feature. The feature uses facial recognition technology to speed up the process of labeling or "tagging" friends and acquaintances who appear in photos posted on the network.

The technology currently automatically identifies faces in newly uploaded photos by comparing them only to previous snapshots in which users were tagged. Facebook users can choose to remove tags identifying them in photos posted by others on the site.



The changes would come at a time when Facebook and other internet companies' privacy practices are under scrutiny, following the revelations of a US government electronic surveillance program.

Facial recognition technology has been a sensitive issue for technology companies, raising concerns among some privacy advocates and government officials. Tag suggest, which the company introduced in 2011, is not available in Europe due to concerns raised by regulators.

Google's social network, Google+, also employs similar technology, but requires user consent. And it has banned third-party software makers from using facial recognition technology in apps designed for its Glass wearable computer.

Facebook chief privacy officer Erin Egan said Facebook was not currently using facial recognition technology for any other features, but that could change.

"Can I say that we will never use facial recognition technology for any other purposes? Absolutely not," Egan said. But, she noted, "if we decided to use it in different ways we will continue to provide people transparency about that and we will continue to provide control".