A machine-assisted method for verifying a video presence that includes: receiving, at a computing device of an identity provider, an authentication request initially sent from a requester to access an account managed by a relying party, different from the identity provider; retrieving, from the authentication request, at least a portion of a video stream feed initially from the requester, to the computing device, the portion of video stream feed portraying a face of the requester; extracting the face of the requester from the portion of the video stream feed; providing a directive to the requester soliciting a corresponding gesture; and receiving a response gesture from the requester.