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Avoiding automated facial recognition / computer surveillance

Winston Smith | 05.01.2012 16:18 | Policing | Repression | Technology

There is an interesting article here about how to avoid facial recognition from CCTV cameras, etc.

This is more of a feature than news, but I hope you'll forgive me as I think it will be useful to people here (no, I'm nothing to do with the websites linked to). Summary of the top tips:

1. Avoid enhancers: They amplify key facial features.
2. Partially obscure the nose-bridge are: The region where the nose, eyes, and forehead intersect is a key facial feature.
3. Partially obscure the ocular region: The position and darkness of eyes is a key facial feature.
4. Remain inconspicuous: For camouflage to function, it must not be perceived as a mask or disguise.

 http://dismagazine.com/dystopia/evolved-lifestyles/8115/anti-surveillance-how-to-hide-from-machines/
 http://www.cvdazzle.com/
 http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/01/04/2017215/avoiding-facial-recognition-of-the-future

Winston Smith

Comments

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Tilt

05.01.2012 17:31

I was at a biometrics conference towards the end of last year. Someone there working for a company that produced face recognition software told me you can simply tilt your head sideways to avoid face recognition. You might get neckache might. ANd it's nowhere near as stylish as avant garde facepaint.

Bri O'Metric

You're worrying about nothing

05.01.2012 18:55

Its not used in court, if thats all they've got on you just say no comment. They're more likely to look for fingerprints, and listen to you incriminating yourself on their telephone network.

A4Vision -3D facial imaging
oculis labs -computer vision, facial recognition and detection with webcam
SRD -identity resolution software
CallMiner -phone speech analytics software
Carnegie Speech -speech recognition
GeoIQ -mobile phone visualization on maps
AzTE PRISM -handwriting recognition
KZO Innovations -streaming video software

Peter

theres loads of facial recognition companies

05.01.2012 20:48

Aspley
BAeSMA
Bel Tech Security Products
Belgrave group
Cambridge Neurodynamics
Bell Tech Security
Electronic Graphics
GEC Traffic Automation
IO Research
Keygrove Marketing
Nobel Campion
NPS Photographic storage and retrival system
picar
Solarray Identification Systems (SIS)
Strategic Imaging Systems (SISYS)
viisage technology
Ampex

Roger

re: You're worrying about nothing

05.01.2012 21:53

Maybe today we are worrying about nothing, but in the future surveillance cameras will probably be more prevalent and more accurate, and maybe linked to a national database.

Just look how ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) has gone from nothing to normal in a few years.

Hopefully there will be some kind of revolution before society gets too dystopian, but in the meantime these ideas could be of some practical use, especially if you are thinking of getting up to mischief.

anon