How to foil facial recognition like a Sci-Fi rebel (because big brother is watching)¶
Tired of being tracked by every camera from the local Tesco to your creepy neighbor’s Ring doorbell? Good news: You can turn your face into an AI-confusing enigma with some surprisingly simple (and stylish) anti-surveillance tech.
The problem: Your face is a data goldmine¶
Facial recognition systems are everywhere:
Stores track how long you stare at the overpriced organic avocados.
Public cameras log your route to work (for “security,” obviously).
Social media auto-tags you in your cousin’s questionable BBQ photos.
And no, just avoiding Facebook won’t save you—AI can now ID you from side profiles, hoodies, or even your gait.
The solution: Become a glitch in the matrix¶
Option 1: IR-Blocking Glasses (For the Cyberpunk Aesthetic)¶
These look like regular glasses but reflect infrared light, which most facial recognition systems use to scan faces.
Top Picks:
Reflectacles – Sleek, comes in prescription. Perfect for looking like a Blade Runner extra.
IRpair – Budget-friendly and surprisingly hipster.
How They Work:
Confuse cameras by blinding them with light (subtly).
Make your eyes appear blacked out or distorted to AI.
Bonus: Also works against creepy night-vision drones (probably).
Option 2: Anti-surveillance face masks (For the post-apocalyptic chic)¶
Since COVID normalised masks, why not upgrade to privacy-enhanced ones?
Features to Look For:
Patterns that break facial contours (dazzle camouflage, like a high-tech zebra).
Metallic threading to mess with thermal imaging.
Pair with a hoodie and sunglasses for maximum “I’m definitely not a person” energy.
DIY alternatives (For the budget-conscious anarchist)¶
If you’d rather not drop money on anti-tracking gear:
Stick-on LED patches (confuses cameras with light flares).
Face paint in UV-reactive colours (invisible to you, blinding to AI).
Just wear a Guy Fawkes mask (though this may attract other kinds of attention).
Limitations (because nothing’s perfect)¶
Doesn’t stop gait recognition (walk like you’ve got a limp, maybe?).
Some AI adapts (so rotate your methods like a spy).
Security guards may side-eye you (but that’s their problem).
Extra paranoid? Go full stealth mode¶
Thermal blankets (foil body-heat tracking).
Voice changers (because voice recognition is a thing now).
Carry an umbrella lined with metallic fabric (blocks overhead drones).
Fight back with chaos¶
Facial recognition thrives on predictability. The more you randomise your appearance, the harder you are to track. So go forth and confuse the machines.
Testing¶
Want to test your disguise? Try HowManyTimesWasITracked.com (sorry, fake, but it should exist).