Coronavirus Mask Image dataset

The Coronavirus Mask Image Dataset is a dataset of 1,200 people wearing face masks in order to improve the quality of biometric facial recognition algorithms.

The dataset was created during the COVID-19 pandemic by US-based AI startup WorkAround.

Risks and harms 🛑

The Coronavirus Mask Image dataset has been criticised for violating the privacy of the general public.

Transparency and accountability 🙈

The Coronavirus Mask Image Dataset suffers from multiple transparency limitations.

• Data collection methods. The exact methods used to gather the images are not fully disclosed.

• Source diversity. It is unclear how diverse the sources of the images are, which could lead to biases.

• Privacy consent. It is unclear whether individuals in the images consented to their inclusion.

• Annotation process. Details about how images were labeled (e.g., "mask worn correctly," "no mask") are limited.

• Dataset composition. The balance between masked and unmasked images, or different types of masks, is not well-documented.

• Demographic representation. Information about the diversity of individuals represented in the dataset is lacking.

• Image quality variation. The range of image qualities and how this might affect model performance is not described.

• Context information. Details about where and when images were taken (e.g., indoor/outdoor, pre/post-pandemic) are missing.

News, commentary, analysis 🗞️

• https://www.cnet.com/news/your-face-mask-selfies-could-be-training-the-next-facial-recognition-tool/

• https://www.dailydot.com/debug/face-mask-selfies-facial-recognition/

• https://www.biometricupdate.com/202005/researchers-use-instagram-mask-selfies-to-improve-biometric-facial-recognition-algorithms

• https://www.wired.co.uk/article/iphone-13-features-touch-id

• https://www.techspot.com/news/85307-face-mask-selfies-used-retrain-facial-recognition-systems.html

• https://www.thelist.com/211346/the-unexpected-benefit-of-taking-face-mask-selfies/

• https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2020/06/04/widespread-face-mask-use-could-make-facial-recognition-less/

• https://www.inputmag.com/culture/facial-recognition-ai-researchers-are-trying-to-navigate-a-covid19-world/amp

• https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8337541/Researchers-harvest-peoples-mask-selfies-without-consent-improve-facial-recognition-software.html

• https://www.cnet.com/health/facial-recognition-firms-are-scrambling-to-see-around-face-masks/