Introducing: The Juggalizer. New Facebook AR filter applies juggalo makeup to your photos to “outsmart” facial recognition
Facial recognition surveillance is no laughing matter. It’s broken. It’s biased. And it’s inherently vulnerable to hacking and abuse.
As use of this terrifying surveillance technology expands, the American public is becoming increasingly worried that the United States is adopting the worst practices of authoritarian regimes. So it’s no surprise that people everywhere are working hard to figure out ways to avoid becoming victims of a new, digital surveillance state.
On July 1st, 2019, twitter user TAHKION announced a breakthrough:
That’s right. Apparently Insane Clown Posse’s juggalo makeup prevents facial recognition software — like the kind being employed at music events by private corporations like Ticketmaster and Livenation — from successfully identifying you.
If you’re not aware, Insane Clown Posse is a rap duo famous for huntin’ chickens, pondering the physics of magnetism, and covering Mozart. Their fans refer to themselves as “juggalos” and paint their faces in imitation of their musical heroes.
Notably, the FBI has designated juggalos as a gang that engages in “personal drug use and possession, petty theft and vandalism.” Perhaps the FBI should add “conscientious civil disobedience to dystopian surveillance” to the rap sheet.
The Juggalizer
Given this news, digital rights group Fight for the Future has released The Juggalizer, a (not serious at all) Facebook filter that will allow you to instantly apply juggalo makeup to all your social media photos. Just listen to what our developer had to say about it:
“This … this won’t work at all. First of all Facebook is definitely storing your original photo and second of all … just no, this is silly. Our comms team made me do it. The only way to stop facial recognition is to get the government to ban it.”
What a testimonial! And from a technology expert! Anyhow, to use the filter, simply follow these steps:
- Make sure you have “Liked” Fight for the Future’s Facebook page.
- Open Facebook using your mobile device.
- Click “Add Story.”
- Click “Camera.”
- Select the smiley face icon.
- Select The Juggalizer from the list of filters.
It’s that easy! Whoop whoop!
On a technical note, you should be aware that The Juggalizer only fools the simple python face_recognition library, and Facebook still gets the original photo to use for their own nefarious purposes. Aaaaand companies like Amazon and Vigilant Solutions use their own proprietary software and are aggressively marketing it to law enforcement agencies. So if you want to avoid being identified by real-time facial recognition software while out in public, you’ll need to actually apply juggalo makeup every time you leave the house.
Or you can simply visit our website BanFacialRecognition.com and contact your lawmakers to demand a ban on government use of this dangerous surveillance technology.
