Having a problem with surveillance? This Identity prosthetic gives you a whole new face.
In the realm of biometrics, where thousands of cameras now watch our every move and plug in directly to data mining centers where our activities are analyzed, aggregated and dispatched according to our perceived threat. The question remains; how can we modify our faces to disappear from government and corporate eyes when we step out of our front doors?
The anti-face recognition technology is currently available in Leo Selvaggio’s image, so government systems spotting anyone wearing the mask will flag him as the culprit. But the implications are so broad that somewhere inside the Department of Homeland Security surveillance personnel are undoubtedly scrambling to thwart it, because it presents a serious hiccup to the surveillance state.
With the ease of 3-D printing any "techie" with the ability to mimic someone else’s face via 3D graphing software will have the ability to assume a person’s identity by simply printing their face and wearing it.
“Our world is becoming increasingly surveilled. For example, Chicago has over 25,000 cameras networked to a single facial recognition hub,” reads the URME (pronounced U R Me) site. “We don’t believe you should be tracked just because you want to walk outside and you shouldn’t have to hide either. Instead, use one of our products to present an alternative identity when in public.”
The 3D-printed resin mask, made from a 3D scan of Selvaggio’s face and manufactured by ThatsMyFace.com, renders his features and skin tone with surprising realism.
"To be clear, I am not anti-surveillance,"Selvaggio stated. "What I am pushing for is increasing the amount of public discourse about surveillance and how it affects our behavior in public space. When we are watched we are fundamentally changed. We perform rather than be."
