Facial recognition is the analysis of the features of human faces for the purpose of matching one face to another.
Facial recognition involves a human or automated system locating and measuring the facial features (e.g., shape of the nose, distance between the eyes) of a face (or image of a face), and comparing them with the facial features of another face (or image of a face). If the features of the two faces are sufficiently similar, the faces are considered to belong to the same person.
Modern facial recognition systems are capable of matching a face image against a large database of faces, even if the face in the image is masked, with only the eyes and eyebrows visible. Facial recognition systems coupled with mass video surveillance can be used to automate the tracking of individuals through a space.
See the “Facial recognition” topic.
Used in tactics: Incrimination
Mitigations
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Anonymous dress | You can wear a mask that adequately covers your face, including your eyebrows and up to the top of your nose. |
| Biometric concealment | You can wear a mask to cover your facial features, and sunglasses or a hat with a low brim to cover your eyes. |
Used in repressive operations
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| 2019-2020 case against Mónica and Francisco | In order to identify Mónica and Francisco on public CCTV footage, photos of both were compared to the footage, including a comparison of several facial features: eye distances, wrinkles, piercing scars, ear size, mouth and nose shape[1]. |
| 2013 case against Mónica and Francisco | The main evidence against Mónica and Francisco was a comparison of photos of both of them with public CCTV footage that showed their uncovered faces while they were in the subway, shortly before or after the action[2]. |