Millions of Chinese, for fear of contracting the coronavirus , wear masks across the country … which is causing an unexpected consequence by covering their faces .
It turns out that face masks override features based on facial recognition, a technology necessary for many routine transactions in China . Suddenly, certain mobile phones, shop doors and bank accounts are no longer being unlocked with a glance.
Chinese biometrics
Biometrics, including facial recognition, is essential for daily life in China. It’s used to do everything from ordering food to scheduling medical appointments to boarding a plane at more than 200 airports across the country. Facial recognition is even used in bathrooms to prevent an occupant from using too much toilet paper.
And beyond day-to-day transactions, technology is a key piece in the Chinese government’s scheme to monitor its 1.4 billion citizens .
This technology is also used in some schools , where a camera records student attendance and can provide predictions about student behavior and engagement.
Facial recognition technology that can "see through" disguises already exists, but is far from perfect. Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Indian National Institute of Technology, for example, demonstrated a method that could identify a person wearing a mask with an accuracy of around 55% . In 2018, Panasonic introduced commercially available software that can identify people wearing face masks if the camera captures images at a certain angle.
So ironically, at least for now, the coronavirus is restoring privacy to the Chinese. And making the digital bureaucracy impossible.