The Art of Avoiding Surveillance : "Anti-Face"
Facing Janus with Color + Contrast :
Janus is an experimental research initiative organized by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence. The program uses powerful biometric facial-recognition software to sweep social media networks with the intention of compiling a digital library of faces. This library not only confirms identities but can catalog a range of pain, fatigue and general emotions. The project has received funding since approximately 2014 and has since been dubbed "HyperFace". From the IARPA website, below...
"Radically expanding the scenarios in which automated face recognition can establish identity.... The goal of the Janus program is to enable dramatic improvements in unconstrained face recognition…to develop novel representations to encode the shape, texture, and dynamics of a face for the purpose of improving face recognition performance from video and still images, and then allowing higher performance search and retrieval based upon these more efficient representations.” Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA). (Sourced from the Janus website.)
A Dazzling Resistance
As innovative mechanisms of surveillance become increasingly adopted, so are methods of reclaiming privacy. One provocative example is the make-up and hair styling work of "CV Dazzle" by artist Adam Harvey...
"CV Dazzle uses avant-garde hairstyling and makeup designs to break apart the continuity of a face. Since facial-recognition algorithms rely on the identification and spatial relationship of key facial features, like symmetry and tonal contours, one can block detection by creating an “anti-face”." (CVD website.)
What do you think, fellow Steemians?
Would you adopt a new dew and don colorful makeup? Are programs like Janus antithetical to democracy? Or, alternatively, are programs like these just the natural progression of technology and security. Should you worry if you have nothing to hide? I've thought about these two questions recently. In my home and neighborhood (New York City) I'm keenly aware of the hundreds (perhaps thousands) of CCTV surveillance cameras that record me on a daily basis. I've somewhat accepted this routine recording. But I recently stumbled on the work of Adam Harvey and a quote below about "deception" being part of human nature, it had me rethinking the slippery slopes of public-realm anonymity...
"From all appearances, deception has always been critical to daily survival—for human and non-human creatures alike—and, judging by its current ubiquity, there is no end in immediate sight." - Roy Behrens, Camoupedia.
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I think I'd rather be surveilled, than have one of those hair-cuts...:))
Haha! Yeah you'd think there would be an easier way?? But I dunno @macksby... The artist who invented this lives in Brooklyn, so maybe there's something that they get that we aren't catching onto ;)
This is a very clever idea. I am not one who believes that "having nothing to hide" means it's ok to give up personal, social, political or any other freedom. I say go for it and who knows, maybe we can all come up with very cool hairstyles. The gathering of data without permission has gotten extremely out of anything that's justified or acceptable IMO.
Great points @natureofbeing. Truly, I do feel okay with have my face photographed... in NYC. A part of living here includes sacrificing personal space and being comfortable having the sidewalk as an extension of your living room. What I definitely do take issue with is all this (newly legalized) internet monitoring and data gathering. It has gotten out of control. Perhaps there's a clever way of disguising steemit content??
disguising steemit content would be great!
Awesome! Thanks for the tweet bump @hilarski
I can see a potential hair salon business in this- extreme makeovers here we come!
Now that's what I call a 21st century business idea!
I had an idea for making 'tinfoil hat' fascinators the other day- you never know it might take off!
Yes! I could totally imagine a tin-hat trend taking off... a blend of high-fashion and high-conspiracy.
Security is an interesting dilemma, however, it is only interesting because of all the complexities built upon a crumbling foundation. If the foundation were strong --> the purpose --> then the dilemma would be less interesting or even non-existent. To better explain, the "purpose" is to protect one's values. Considering this is the NSA, then their values are the constitution. Are they protecting their values in this case? After reading the constitution I would have to say no. They are breaking the 4th Amendment, so regardless the amount of security provided, the fundamental purpose was broken. If you break things down to simple questions and then answer those questions before you move on, even the most complex problems are easy to solve.
Great thoughts here @mattthought... your method of tracing the mission of Janus to the constitution makes a lot of sense. Of course, the IARPA would argue that this tech is not intended to apply toward American citizens. I don't know, who knows where the target is being pointed. Collaterally, it must affect folks who are not the targets. For those wondering... the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution is ...
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
The IARPA mission actually brings up an even more interesting question. The question we see in nearly every religion. How to treat others? But now we get deep into philosophy, although break it down to the simple questions. I'm going to make a jump here, but I think the question finally arrives at, how do we treat our enemies or those perceived to be a criminal? Gets back to that foundation, if we build a strong foundation, then questions like these become easier to answer. We treat perceived criminals with innocence, because that protects the innocent, if we start treating the innocent as potential criminals, who are we protecting? Fear is a powerful thing, the human psyche can be so interesting. (funny thought though, what if we write encryption for pictures, for example on Facebook all the picture would look like Picasso paintings until they were decrypted on the other end by an accepted friend. Make the AI work for it a bit hehe)
That's super interesting. On camouflaging imagery (your idea of Picasso-ing facebook photos) ... a similar effect could be made in the public realm. I worked on a project a ways back about designing mural-art camo for public spaces as a way of disorienting CCTV cameras. Essentially, using high contrast paint and tricks of perspective to confuse camera tracking. We never got to implement it... but here's a concept rendering of one of our ideas for a tunnel in midtown Manhattan...
that's awesome lol, totally mess with their depth perception deficiencies lol. That'll show those mono-eyes hehe
The values of the government are power and wealth. Liberty is irrelevant beyond a sales pitch slogan.
Great article. It's somehow sad that we have to hide our faces to avoid surveillance these days. But I really like the approach of a counter-strike by avant-garde hairstyling and makeup. Resteemed!
Thanks @shortcut! I agree, I think in light of such a harrowing topic folks are coming up with some super creative solutions.
I don't post photos of myself on social media. I have been tagged by friends as so many different cartoon characters that it could sow confusion.
So long as you don't coincidentally live in Disney, Florida... the cartoon faces should work just fine ;)
Very interesting post, the makeup is a little odd :)
Following
Odd indeed! Thanks for the support @andrew0! :)
amazing!
Thanks @neonartist :)
Instantly came into mind
HAHA. Hell yes.