Facial recognition technology (FRT) faces diverse risks arising from the alienation of application scenarios, giving rise to a structural contradiction between governance costs and benefits. Its unidirectional development, primarily as a tool for security verification, has extended beyond the bounds of social value rationality. The core value of FRT is not confined to security verification; rather, it possesses a unique advantage in forging identity linkages between the natural world and digital space, enabling consistent recognition of physical and digital identities while preserving the natural attributes of human biometric features. Following a scenario-guided governance approach that aligns risks and benefits with specific use-case scenarios, this study proposes a strategic shift in the functional positioning of FRT—from a simple security tool to a form of digital infrastructure. This transition would allow for the exploration of a dynamic governance mechanism centered on the principles of necessity and scenario-appropriateness, thereby reshaping the relationship between technological applications and social development, and constructing human-centered ethical norms.

facial recognition, digital infrastructure, digital transformation, on-device artificial intelligence