Make up & hair

By altering the expected dark and light areas of a face (or object) according to the vulnerabilities of a specific computer vision algorithm. In the image above, the design targets the Viola-Jones face detection algorithm, a popular and open source face detector that is included with the OpenCV computer vision framework.

CV Dazzle aims to introduce low-cost methods for breaking computer vision algorithms. Here, the design are created using only hair styling, makeup, and fashion accessories, which could be customized to any wearer’s style.

Because computer vision is always based on probabilistic thresholds, these can be exploited by altering the key visual features to appear one step below the threshold of detection.

And since face detection is the first step in any automated facial recognition system, blocking the detection stage also blocks any subsequent facial analysis including recognition and emotional analysis. Therefore, CV Dazzle could be used to block facial recognition by blocking face detection using only hair styling and makeup.

Reflective clothes

Wearing clothing that has even a couple of inches of surface area that is retro-reflective makes it trivially easy for anyone with a flashlight or night vision with an IR illuminator to find you in the dark, but it can also blind cameras in much the same way that NIR LEDs do.

Just make sure the material is near your face. Retro-reflective eyeglass frames and hoodies with retro-reflective trim are two effective options.

Certain materials like reflective clothes do not reflect visible light, but do reflect NIR light used by infrared cameras to be able to recognize faces in all type of light conditions.

With some astronaut style you will become the invisible for face recognition cameras.

Eye wear & caps

The same tools can help protect you from exposure, protect your eyes or can help protect your identity if you dont want to be recognize every time you go out in a world full of cameras.

When things go sideways and the lights go out, you can find comfort in reaching for low tech tools to solve the problems at hand and hats and balaclavas are just that. Even a scarf with non symetrical graphics will do the work. As we said, the face recognition algorythm recognize a human face when it finds some elements of symetry. As soon as you break this symetry you will reduce the chances to be recognized.

If you use this method, be sure to cover as much of your face as possible. Object recognition does not use the covered portions of your face and some software can identify faces with as little as 30% to 50% of the face unobstructed.

Flashlights

The brighter the flashlight, the better. Use a small device that you can easily store. This method only works well in the dark, so save it for stealthy excursions at night or in enclosed spaces.

Figure out exactly where the camera is, and shine the light directly into the lens. When properly executed, this technique should create a lens flare that makes it nearly impossible to tell what you look like. If you wish to get more involved, you can craft an LED «mask» that even more heavily obscures your face. Make sure that the lights are bright enough to blot out your face from the camera’s view, but not so bright that they blind you.