Facial recognition isn't just everywhere; it has also become remarkably accurate. Even in the most unflattering photos, social networks' algorithms can determine a person's identity, which raises many privacy questions. In the past we've seen some methods to fool recognition, but this time it's AVG that decided to explore the concept with a pair of special glasses.
The Privacy Dilemma
If someone has certain images they'd rather keep private, why post them on a place like Facebook? Perhaps they see the social network as a good place to store them (a mistake for several reasons, including quality reduction) or they may need to share them with someone anyway, but this involves playing by the platform's rules, and within those rules is facial recognition. While Facebook offers parameters to regulate the famous 'tagging', the truth is that despite this, there is an algorithm in the background processing faces... and doing an excellent job. How can a limit be set? Is it even possible? Are we condemned to wear masks in front of every lens?
How the Glasses Work
Two years ago, a Japanese team developed an interruption system based on safety glasses and infrared LED lights. The folks at AVG drew inspiration from that creation and shaped a more polished version using regular glasses. Basically, if a camera captures a person's face while wearing these glasses, the lens reacts with the infrared light the LEDs emit nonstop. Add to that the effect of a reflective surface, which sends the light back at the same angle it arrived. The combination causes overexposure in the image, darkening the face around the nose and eyes. Under those conditions, facial recognition should fail completely.
Just a Proof of Concept
As far as we've been able to find out, AVG's glasses are nothing more than a simple proof of concept, with no plans to put them on sale. A device like this needs impeccable aesthetics and a robust energy solution, since keeping those LEDs constantly lit has the potential to drain any standard battery.
