Face masking – definition
Face masking is a privacy protection technique involving the application of graphical overlays—such as shapes or blocks—covering faces in photos or videos to prevent recognition. It is used to comply with GDPR and maintain the contextual integrity of visual media during on-premise and AI-powered processing. It's important to emphasize that masking alone isn't enough to achieve full anonymization. The original image fragment beneath the mask must also be permanently deleted.
Tools used in face masking
Automated face detection systems apply colored shapes or pixel blocks on detected faces, available in both on-premise and cloud solutions. AI models enhance accuracy and speed, enabling high-volume data processing.
Benefits of face masking
Masking ensures data protection of biometric information, supports lawful data sharing, and reduces the legal overhead of individual consent requirements, while keeping the visual content comprehensible for analysis.
Risks of face masking
Incorrect face detection or insufficient masking may leave identifying features visible. Poorly chosen graphic masks can degrade visual quality or context. Human oversight remains important to ensure compliance.
Examples of using face masking
In CCTV footage archives, rectangular masks are placed over faces of uninvolved individuals to protect their privacy before sharing the content.