In some Asian countries the deployment of AI applications for facial recognition in the public sphere has been well on its way. In these same countries, for other reasons, may people are used to wearing facial masks. Some wear them, respecting their fellow citizens, when going through the motions of a cold or other illness. Some wear them to protect themselves from pollutants in the air. At times, facial masks or coverings are used to protect oneself from the effects of sunlight or sandstorms.

In European countries, for instance, masks have been used during festivities such as carnival and during civil disobedience acts, such as demonstrations. Presently, yet reluctantly, a few more individuals use surgical masks or similar filtering masks to protect themselves from illness. In general, until recently, governments in the EU have not been promoting their usage.

Now that surgical masks are used even more onto faces within the general population, will this have an effect on investments made in AI research and developments towards facial recognition in the public sphere? Will it effect the usability of these systems already in place?