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Startup Sells Clothing Designed to Disrupt AI Surveillance Cameras
A Leipzig company markets jackets, scarves and phone pouches that use patterns and shielding to interfere with facial recognition and location tracking. Police unions back expanded camera use while a privacy group warns of lost anonymity.
Jul 13, 1:36 AM·1m read1 source
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A Leipzig startup sells jackets, scarves and phone pouches intended to make wearers harder for AI cameras to identify or track. The garments carry face-like prints and special cuts that confuse recognition software. A bestseller is a pouch that blocks network signals and GPS, keeping phones off the grid.
Background on surveillance plans In March, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced plans to install smart cameras at railway stations that would capture biometric data. The German Police Union supports the systems, stating they provide useful support for police work.
AlgorithmWatch said the measures would enable blanket tracking and end anonymity in public spaces. Smart cameras already operate in several cities, though most do not perform biometric evaluation. Hesse is testing real-time facial recognition in Frankfurt’s station district to identify potential attackers and locate missing persons.
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