Adversarial Fashion and Anti-Surveillance Wearables
Adversarial Fashion and Anti-Surveillance Wearables[edit | edit source]
Using clothing and accessories to disrupt surveillance systems and facial recognition.
Overview[edit | edit source]
As surveillance becomes increasingly automated — with facial recognition, license plate readers, and AI-driven behavior analysis — designers, hackers, and activists have begun to fight back with fashion. Adversarial fashion and anti-surveillance wearables are experimental garments, accessories, and modifications designed to confuse, block, or subvert surveillance systems.
While not a total solution to surveillance, these tools highlight how the body itself can be part of the resistance — not just the tech we use.
Techniques and Concepts[edit | edit source]
- Adversarial Patterns:
* Patterns designed to trigger false positives in facial recognition systems * Can cause detection systems to misidentify or ignore a person entirely
- Reflective Materials:
* Clothing or accessories that reflect IR light from surveillance cameras, blowing out images * Useful at night against CCTV and flash photography
- Infrared Emitters:
* Glasses or headbands with IR LEDs that blind infrared-capable cameras (invisible to the human eye)
- License Plate Obfuscation:
* Tools like counter-surveillance scarves or overexposed accessories to confuse ALPRs (Automated License Plate Readers)
- Makeup / Hairstyle Disruption:
* Techniques like CV Dazzle use asymmetric hair, face paint, or shadow placement to break facial symmetry and confuse AI
Example Projects and Designs[edit | edit source]
- Adversarial Fashion by Kate Bertash: Barcode-print clothing that pollutes data collected by retail tracking systems
- Reflectacles: Sunglasses made from retroreflective materials that shine under IR
- CV Dazzle: Makeup and styling techniques to defy facial recognition
- CHBL Jammer Coat: Blocks wireless signals (cell, Wi-Fi, GPS) for personal shielding
- Hyphen Labs NeuroSpeculative AfroFeminism: Conceptual and wearable art to challenge gaze and prediction systems
Use Cases in Activism[edit | edit source]
- Protesting in heavily surveilled urban environments
- Disrupting mass data collection in public/private spaces (malls, transit hubs)
- Educating the public about surveillance through wearable visibility
- Making space for identity, gender, or culture to resist algorithmic profiling
Limitations and Disclaimers[edit | edit source]
- **Not foolproof**: Most tools confuse AI, not human observers
- **May draw attention**: Some styles are overt and may provoke unwanted scrutiny
- **Legal risk**: In some areas, interfering with surveillance or covering your face may be restricted
- **Not all cameras use IR**: Reflective and IR emitters won’t work in every case
Always consider your context and balance visibility vs. effectiveness. Combine wearables with good digital hygiene and situational awareness.
Ethical Considerations[edit | edit source]
- Don’t rely on aesthetics alone — adversarial fashion is not a license to act without OpSec
- Credit original creators and learn from open-source wearables communities
- Share methods in a way that empowers others, not just markets to them
Related Topics[edit | edit source]
- Operational Security OpSec Basics
- Faraday Enclosures and Signal Blockers
- Facial Recognition and Protest Surveillance
Resources and Further Reading[edit | edit source]
- https://adversarialfashion.com – Open-source project by Kate Bertash
- https://cvdazzle.com – CV Dazzle site with guides and inspiration
- https://reflectacles.com – IR-blocking sunglasses and accessories
- Tactical Tech’s visual resistance workshops
Legal Disclaimer[edit | edit source]
This page is for educational use only. Local laws may restrict face covering, light interference, or signal jamming. Always research your region's laws and use these tools responsibly and nonviolently.