Surveillance technology and facial recognition algorithms are being increasingly used on and against us. The common Londoner, for instance, is caught more than 300 times a day by cameras operated by public bodies, businesses, and individuals.

In June, as a response to the nationwide demonstrations protesting the death of George Floyd and systemic racism, the US government gave latest powers to the country’s Drug Enforcement Administration, granting them authority to conduct covert surveillance and collect intelligence on those participating within the protests.

To fight back, many individuals have been turning to make-up which, when applied in block shapes and geometric patterns – think Juggalo make-up – has the potential to throw off lots of the algorithms that detect human faces.

To assist teach us all more about it, Pussy Riot have put out a latest tutorial demonstrating techniques for find out how to create anti-surveillance make-up looks. “Each day we quite literally face myriads of facial recognition tools available to police departments and government agencies,” says founding member Nadya Tolokonnikova. “Giving an excessive amount of power to the police or any security agency provides the conditions for authoritarian abuse.” 

Within the tutorial, Tolokonnikova explains find out how to use contrasting shades and shapes to trick surveillance systems into pondering that we are usually not human. “You should obscure the natural highlights and shadows in your face,” she says. “Essentially the most effective option to do that is via strong lines across the face, mouth and nose that divide up facial symmetry, stopping the facial recognition software from fitting the puzzle pieces of your face together right into a coherent picture.” 

In case you are going to do that, you’ll need to ensure you partially obscure the nose bridge area (where the nose, eyes, and brow intersect) as this can be a key facial feature, as is the position and darkness of eyes which you will even need to obscure.

Stay protected, everyone, and remember, in the event you think your actions could have repercussions for you or your activist community, Pussy Riot recommend “it is usually a greater idea to wear an old good balaclava.”

Pussy Riot have been busy this week, “celebrating” Vladimir Putin’s birthday by hanging  rainbow flags outside several government buildings and landmarks in protest of the country’s treatment of LGBTQ+ people. 

The group also published an inventory of demands directed on the Russian government and Putin, stating: “The state shouldn’t interfere within the lives of the LGBTQ community, but when it does, then the community can intervene within the lifetime of the state.” Among the many seven demands are the legalisation of same-sex partnerships, an investigation into the killings and kidnappings of queer people in Chechnya, and the ending of discriminatory laws. In addition they propose making Putin’s birthday “LGBTQ visibility day”. Read more here and watch the make-up tutorial below.

Directed and edited by Nadya Tolokonnikova
Video and photography by Santi Imkorpo Pagnotta
Music by Nadya Tolokonnikova and GUPI
Outfits Pussy Riot’s clothing line

Featuring: Maya B, recording artist
Melissa Brooks of The Aquadolls
Gannon co-owner of Subculture party
Nadya Tolokonnikova