Facial recognition proves no match for Juggalo make-up

According to security and privacy researcher Tahkion, certain systems intended for facial recognition can be fooled with specific, face-painted, black-and-white Juggalo designs. Who would have thought that.

According to Tahkion the trick uses the fact that facial recognition systems often take certain contrast points of the human face as a starting point, for example the position of the nose and the place where the chin meets the neck. Because black make-up is often placed above the chin with Juggalo make-up, a raised jawline is formed, as it were, which, according to the researcher, fools the neural networks of at least certain facial recognition systems. Juggalo is the term for fans of the band Insane Clown Posse.

The researcher states that using make-up such as dark eyeliner usually insufficient is. According to him, recognition technology cannot simply recognize the same person if a photo with the specific Juggalo make-up is already available, because it is difficult to consistently wear the same make-up twice.

The website The Outline reports that systems like Apple’s Face ID are likely here also cannot be tricked, since the sensor determines whether there is a match based on depth information. Based on the screenshots published by the researcher, he uses through GitHub available facial recognition software. The so-called ‘corpse paint’ of certain metal bands appears less effective in evading facial recognition.