Face masks are mandatory in at least two provinces in China, including the city of Wuhan. In an effort to contain the coronavirus strain that has caused hundreds of deaths, the government is insisting that millions of residents wear a protective face covering when they go out in public.

This means the mass surveillance programmes involving facial scanning are totally pointless. The downside is that face masks also trip up facial recognition-based functions, a technology necessary for many routine transactions in surveillance China.

Suddenly, certain mobile phones, condominium doors, and bank accounts won't unlock with a glance.

Biometrics, including facial recognition, are essential to daily life in China, on a scale beyond other nations. It's used to do everything from ordering fast food meals to scheduling medical appointments to boarding a plane in more than 200 airports across the country. Facial recognition is even used in restrooms to prevent an occupant from taking too much bog paper.