In future Singapore, Juggalo makeup could 'siam' facial-recognition tech

In a world where facial recognition tech is installed in everything except the kitchen sink (damn it, they’ve done that too), being an Insane Clown Posse aficionado might protect you from the growing threat to privacy. 

As it turns out, one tangible benefit of donning the clown face paint like a member of an FBI-identified criminal street gang is that the authorities won’t be able to track you. Though to be fair, not all Juggalos and Juggallettes (diehard fans of ICP) are gangsters — they just really like the horrorcore hip hop duo enough to smear the iconic black-and-white makeup on their faces. 

A Twitter user who goes by the handle of @Tahkion made the startling discovery earlier this month, dishing out some pretty elaborate explanations on how facial recognition software works and how Juggalo makeup totally thwarts surveillance tech.

i made a breakthrough. it turns out juggalo makeup defeats facial recognition successfully. if you want to avoid surveillance, become a juggalo i guess pic.twitter.com/kEh7fUQeXq

— TAHKION (@tahkion) July 1, 2018

It all boils down to the process of detecting jawlines to identify an individual. Juggalo makeup, says @Tahkion, is “particularly effective” due to the blocky black shapes that distort the contrasts of a face, thereby making it tougher for the software to pick up for analysis. The configuration of Juggalo makeup fools facial recognition algorithms even better than other black-and-white guises like black metal corpse paint or the ones donned by KISS. 

for anyone wondering why some face changes evade facial recognition and others don't, here's a visualization of how landmarks are placed on a few examples. juggalo makeup is particularly effective as it basically totally redefines what is interpreted as the jawline pic.twitter.com/dFSx5FEGc9

— TAHKION (@tahkion) July 1, 2018

Surprisingly, Gene Simmons of KISS seems to overcome facial recognition more effectively by nature of having his tongue out than actually due to his face paint. pic.twitter.com/ChWRjzhBHe

— TAHKION (@tahkion) July 10, 2019

But as Fast Company pointed out, facial recognition software works in various ways. Apple’s Face ID, for example, utilises depth perception instead of contrast, so that would mean that Juggalos and Juggalettes with iPhones can unlock their devices without any issue.

[[nid:449492]]

Surveillance tech shouldn't be too unfamiliar in Singapore too, where facial-recognition tools are being rolled out in places like Changi Prison, Changi Airport, and even lamp posts across the country. Indispensable methods to deter crimes and prevent terror attacks, the government says. 

Garish face paint is an option, but we imagine having the Juggalo make-up on will garner way more unnecessary attention IRL, so there’s that. Whoop whoop. 

So, yes, juggalo face paint is genuinely quite good at avoiding facial recognition, in fact, considerably better than many of the styles deliberately created to attempt to thwart it. Whoop whoop! pic.twitter.com/qFDcYSbC1k

— TAHKION (@tahkion) July 10, 2019

ilyas@asiaone.com