China’s silicone mask criminals raise safety concerns; e-commerce platforms censor product searches

SINGAPORE: They are often used in Hollywood and are a recurring, if perhaps overused, feature of the Mission Impossible films.

The realistic silicone face masks have now come under the spotlight in China following recent crimes by criminals wearing them, prompting calls for tighter oversight amid concerns they could become a modus operandi for criminals, especially given their ease of access.

Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Taobao and Pinduduo have clamped down on searches for such masks as analysts warn the products could help criminals avoid identification or even make it easier to steal identities or impersonate someone by bypassing facial recognition systems.

CNA checks have shown that silicone face masks can easily be shipped outside of China to other Asian destinations, such as Singapore. But experts say there is no cause for concern.

“I believe that if (such a mask is purchased and) used to commit or attempt to commit a crime, it will definitely be a crime,” said Mr Chung Ting Fai, founder of a law firm of the same name, which specialises in intellectual property and commercial law in both China and Singapore.

However, there have been no reported cases (in Singapore) so far, so it was not a problem,” he told CNA.

EXPOSING CRIMINALS

Silicone masks have recently come under the spotlight in China after local media reported on several break-ins in which perpetrators used them.

In March, four homes in Shanghai were broken into and more than 100,000 yuan ($13,760) worth of valuables were stolen. When police caught the suspect, they discovered he was a man in his 40s who had disguised himself as an elderly person using a silicone mask.

Last month, a burglar broke into five rural households in the eastern province of Jiangsu, stealing valuables worth 30,000 yuan. Local police say he allegedly disguised himself as an electrician, carrying a silicone mask on hand to evade police if necessary.