Google to ban digital makeup modes on Android smartphones
According to a report from XDA Developers, it looks like Google is making interesting changes to the camera API for Android 11. They are intended to prevent the use of algorithms for smoothing skin, changing skin color, or face geometry when shooting with the camera built into the smartphone.
makeupXDA Developers editor-in-chief Mishaal Rahman noted in Google’s Android 11 compatibility documentation that the company is prohibiting hardware manufacturers from using face-adjusting algorithms for image processing. Although the relevant section [C-0-12] was later removed from the documentation, the screenshot captured by Mr. Rahman reads: “The appearance of the face cannot be altered, including but not limited to changing face geometry, facial skin tone, or anti-aliasing faces “ :
This condition is intended for smartphone manufacturers who like to add such “cosmetic filters” to the pre-installed camera applications on their devices. There are cases when even after disabling the special modes of “Beauty” the device continues to “improve” a person’s face.
Based on the wording of the documentation, it seems that third-party cameras offering such functions and filters of “digital makeup” will not be affected: we are talking only about the application of the manufacturer itself. However, this has not been confirmed at this time.
If “digital make-up” is really banned, then other intelligent modes of improving photography (like night shots, digital zoom, and so on) may come, if, of course, follow the logic of Google.
It is not clear why Google’s beloved digital makeup did not please. Perhaps this is done at the request of the American special services, which have encountered difficulties in the formation of photographic databases? The guaranteed distortion-free portraits taken with basic smartphone cameras make sorting your shots much easier.
