Towards a “face-free society”, why masks are a threat to the safety of citizens

To the surprise of many politicians, the Western population has largely obeyed instructions to stay inside. In fact, deadlock efforts in many countries have been so effective that governments are now thinking about gradually removing restrictions without fearing citizens.

In recent days, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson found a way for citizens to feel calm by coming out of isolation: face mask.

“As part of the exit strategy from the deadlock, I think masks will be useful,” said Johnson earlier this month, claiming that masks will give the public “confidence that they can return to work”.

But the prospect of a new society in which the public hides faces from each other has broad implications for crime and social interaction.

The main problem if people wear masks is that they increase the number of people who want to cover their faces”, said Francis Dodsworth, senior professor of criminology at Kingston University, near London. “This can provide opportunities for people who want to cover their faces for other reasons. They can do it now without doubting it. ”

This may seem somewhat exaggerated for some in Asian countries who were hit by SARS, and masks have been dressed for more than a decade, there was significant increase in crime.

Yves is on display in the United States and Western Europe.

A high profile case took place in Spain, where the interior ministry said last month that it had arrested an ISIS terrorist who had allegedly been hiding in the southern town of Almeria since leaving Syria. He was holding a low profile due to pandemic and was barely out on the street. When he always wore a mask not to be discovered.

Experts said wearing masks could also complicate police investigations, as face recognition is increasingly important in prosecuting criminals. While human beings are very good at recognizing faces, masks complicate every aspect of human life.

The range of security cameras is sometimes the only test for a” investigation, said Eilete Noyes, professor at the University of Huddersfield in northern England. “At the moment we do not know exactly how facial masks will affect the accuracy of human face identification or algorithm,” she said.

A Chinese firm has already claimed to have developed a software that can accurately identify people, even if they are wearing masks. masking creates other problems in law enforcement, especially when it comes to determining what constitutes questionable behavior.

Last year, countries like Hong Kong and France passed laws in parliament, making facial coverage illegal during a protest.

Now, police will have to make tough decisions for people's motivations to cover their faces, Dodsworth said.

What makes someone acting suspiciously is very difficult to determine today. Police will have to consider public health advice when justifying someone's ban. ”

Given that police in most of the world have already been criticised for arresting thousands of citizens during the pandemic, any new criteria will be a concern for minority groups who are already most likely to be detained, questioned and even in designated countries, even shot by police.

Of all the precautionary measures of Avid-19, mass facial coverage is among the most dramatic. The mask is not mandatory in most Western countries due to concerns about human rights violations, and the stigma has generally opposed those wearing masks.

People are told to decide whether to wear masks or not. If you weren't in the condition of a pandemic, if you saw somebody in the mask, you'd avoid it. But now it's less clear when and if you have to be afraid, “said Dodsworth.

If wearing masks becomes massive, it will inevitably affect the way people interact and can lead to greater tension among members of the public, with implications of personal security.

This situation could lead to violent confrontation”, said Ian H. Robertson, professor of psychology at Dublin University. It is clear that any movement towards a faceless society will be a major change for Western nations. We can initially become extremely skeptical of each other”.

Experts Kate Grey, who specializes in reading emotions, said she thought people would probably adapt soon.

“I think we will soon get used to getting social and emotional suggestions from voice signs or body language,” she said.

Although wearing a mask has been common for years in some Asian countries, keeping it among Westerners will be a controversial issue for citizens who value personal freedoms.

However, the willingness by which these populations took the isolation measures suggests that if facial coverage becomes common, the herd's mentality may change. One thing is certain: it will be a great new stranger.

CNN