The Turin-based startup Capable has launched the Manifesto Collection, a line of clothing designed to deceive facial recognition technologies. The vibrantly colored knitwear cleverly tricks artificial intelligence tasked with identifying individuals.
A person dressed in these bright garments is perceived by recognition systems as a zebra, dog, or giraffe.
Protection Stronger Than Makeup or Masks
The founders of the fashion house Capable, Rachel Didero and Federica Busani, developed their unique collection after nine months of research. During this time, the inventors explored numerous patterns, materials, and knitting machines, as reported by Dezeen. Their innovation was tested using the YOLO neural network, the fastest real-time object identification system.
Ultimately, the Manifesto Collection was born, featuring high-quality Egyptian cotton: sweaters, t-shirts, pants, and dresses. Notably, these extravagant yet practical items do not require ironing.
The creators of this innovative technology claim that such clothing protects biometric data more effectively than makeup or masks. Wearing it means there’s no need to cover your face.
Note: A colorful sweater knitted by grandma’s hands does not possess these protective qualities. The algorithm for concealing faces from recognition is embedded in the fabric’s texture: the bright patterns of the Manifesto Collection are designed to make a person appear as an animal.
The research findings formed the basis of Rachel Didero’s dissertation. She believes that the new clothing line should spark a discussion in society about the ethics of using facial recognition cameras.
The Manifesto Collection aims to raise awareness among contemporary audiences regarding the right to privacy of biometric data. According to Didero, the issue of the improper use of biometric recognition systems is relevant to most of the world’s population.
The inventors from Capable are not the first to take steps to protect identities from recognition technologies. In 2019, Polish designer Ewa Nowak created a brass mask that renders faces unrecognizable to surveillance cameras. A year later, Brooklyn designer Sarah Sallam introduced a collection of jewelry and accessories designed to protect against digital tracking.