Realistic silicone masks in China cause fear of Identity theft

In China, a new trend is gaining momentum, causing a wave of excitement and concern: realistic silicone masks, which were once just props for costume parties, are now becoming a tool for committing crimes, which has also alarmed law enforcement agencies.

On the country's largest e–commerce platform, Taobao, "silicone masks" are marketed as a way to transform into anyone from a celebrity to a housemate. Some of them promise to cheat facial recognition systems.

Recently, a customer shared a photo of Professor Severus Snape wearing a mask, causing admiration for its realism and detail. This confirms that the quality of the masks has reached a level at which they can be indistinguishable from the real face.

However, this technology is not perfect. In March last year, thefts were committed in Shanghai, where a robber used a silicone mask to disguise himself as an elderly man. Although he tricked the surveillance cameras, the evidence left behind led the police to the thief.

Contrary to these incidents, there is no legal ban on the sale of silicone masks in China, and they continue to spread throughout Asia. Experts fear that masks may be used to violate portrait rights and other legal risks.

The situation with silicone masks in China once again shows that progress in the field of camouflage and technology can have unexpected consequences.

In Tokyo, a team of engineers has unveiled the first innovative suit of its kind, which not only imitates human skin – it recreates it.

The suit, designed using advanced technology, accurately reproduces the texture, color and even temperature of human skin. The researchers claim that such a costume can be used to create more realistic robot assistants or for special effects in films.

The controversy surrounding this invention concerns the ethical aspects of using materials that mimic human skin. Some experts express concerns about the possibility of abuse of such technologies, while others see in them a huge potential to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities.