Coronavirus Mask Image Dataset
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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.Β
The dataset was created during the COVID-19 pandemic by US-based AI startup WorkAround.Β
The company was criticised for using people's photographs posted to Instagram without acknowledgement or consent, thereby violating Meta's usage policies and violating peoples' privacy.
Facial recognition system
A facial recognition system is a technology potentially capable of matching a human face from a digital image or a video frame against a database of faces.
Source: Wikipedia π
Dataset π€
DataΒ π
Released: 2020
Availability: Available
Developer: WorkAround
Sector: Health
Purpose: Train facial recognition systems
Type: Database/dataset
Technique: Computer vision; Facial recognition
Transparency and accountability π
The Coronavirus Mask Image Dataset is seen to suffer from several important transparency limitations, including:
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.
Risks and harms π
The Coronavirus Mask Image dataset has been criticised for violating the privacy of the general public in an inappropriate and unethical manner.
Incidents and issues π₯
News, commentary, analysis ποΈ
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.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.cnet.com/health/facial-recognition-firms-are-scrambling-to-see-around-face-masks/
Page info
Type: Data
Published: January 2023
Last updated: October 2024