If there is a will there is way.
Employees at a Chinese neighborhood committee office used printed face masks to circumvent a facial recognition attendance system, allowing them to clock in for absent colleagues. This act, exposed by a resident, ignited public anger online, with many calling it corruption and demanding punishment. The incident raises serious questions about the reliability of facial recognition technology, particularly older or low-resolution systems, which can reportedly be fooled by inexpensive printed masks. While some criticized the employees’ actions, others argued that committee members’ duties often require them to be mobile, suggesting such strict attendance systems may be inappropriate for their roles. Authorities have promised to investigate and respond by year-end.