CV Dazzle is a form of camouflage from computer vision created in 2010 as my masters thesis at New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program. Unlike traditional camouflage, such as disruptive-pattern material, that hides the wearer from human observation, CV Dazzle is designed to break machine vision systems while still remaining perceptible to human observers. It is the first documented camouflage technique to successfully attack a computer vision algorithm.

In this proof of concept research project from 2010 the technique was used to break the widely-used (at the time) Viola-Jones face detection algorithm by using bold patterning to break apart the expected features of the face detection profiles (haarcascades). This algorithm gradually become deprecated in security around 2013-2016 and is no longer used, therefore the original patterns (designed between 2010-2013) are no longer active looks. But until then it was the only face detection algorithm and therefore created a single point of failure when broken, cascading throughout the security industry. All of sudden a key technology in the previously infallible post 9/11 security apparatus could be foiled by makeup and hairstyles.