Anti-mask or anti-masking laws are legislative or penal initiatives prohibiting the concealment of one's face in public. Anti-mask laws vary widely between jurisdictions in their intent, scope, and penalties.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, jurisdictions with pre-existing anti-mask laws exempted their mandates on face coverings from such laws, at least in practice.
By country
North America
United States
There are anti-mask laws in many U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Many anti-mask laws date back to the mid-20th century, when states and municipalities passed them to stop the violent activities of the Ku Klux Klan, whose members typically wore hoods of white linen to conceal their identities. In the 21st century those laws have been applied to political protesters such as those affiliated with the Occupy Movement or Anonymous – wearing Guy Fawkes masks.
These laws have been challenged on the grounds that they violate the guarantees of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution to free speech and free association. Some courts have weighed freedom of speech against the public safety interest, and upheld such laws. For example, the Georgia Supreme Court found the law constitutional on the grounds that the wearing of the mask was an act of intimidation and a threat of violence, which is not protected speech. That law has exceptions for holiday celebrations, theatre performances, and occupational safety; the ruling makes it unclear if someone is violating the law if they wear a mask without the intent to threaten violence. A three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld a New York law on the ground that wearing a Ku Klux Klan mask did not convey a protected message beyond that conveyed by wearing a hood and robe. Other courts have struck down anti-mask laws. For example, Tennessee and Florida state laws have been invalidated on the grounds that they were unconstitutionally broad. An ordinance in Goshen, Indiana, was struck down based on First Amendment doctrine that specifically protects anonymous speech and anonymous association, especially for unpopular groups like the KKK. The book Privacy on the Margins discusses how the use of masks can be a performative act of speech and thus protected by the first amendment.
California
In September 2025, California passed a law that prohibits local and federal law enforcement from wearing face masks while conducting operations. The law was passed as a response to the use of face masks by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during enforcement operations.
New York New York State's anti-mask law was enacted in 1845, to provide for public safety after disputes between landlords and tenants. Since 2024, a number of counties in the state have implemented or considered reintroducing the pre-COVID anti-mask law. Nassau County implemented its current anti-mask law in August 2024 although there are exception for health and religious reasons.
Canada After several high-profile protests, the Canadian Parliament introduced Bill C-309, which bans the wearing of masks during a riot or other unlawful assembly.Police chiefs back anti-mask bill The bill became law on June 19, 2013. Canada's Criminal Code, Section 351(2), also covers "Disguise with Intent", whereby "Every one who, with intent to commit an indictable offence, has his face masked or coloured or is otherwise disguised is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years". With some exceptions, an indictable offence in Canada is one that is subject to a fine of greater than $5,000 or imprisonment of more than six months. In 2017 a Quebec ban on face covering for transition and government services became publicized.
Europe
The present table provides a non-exhaustive overview comparing legal restrictions of face coverings in European states. The 2010 French ban on face covering is widely regarded as the most strict, prohibiting face coverings in almost all situations in public places, as opposed to limited restrictions in countries such as Denmark that only outlaws such practices in the context of public assemblies such as demonstrations. + Legal restrictions on face covering in Europe State Since Limitations (examples) Situations Exceptions Notes Austria 2002, 2017 motorcycle full face helmets or face-covering scarves Demonstrations, universities, public transportation or courthouses Face covering for doing one's job Belgium 2011 Burqas, niqabs and other masks In public (unspecified) Upheld by the ECtHR in 2017 Bulgaria 2016 Burqas, niqabs or other face-covering veils Government offices, schools, cultural institutions and places of public recreation Exceptions are allowed for health or professional reasons National ban was preceded by local bans in Bulgarian towns Denmark 2000 Hoods, masks, painting or objects that cover one's face and are worn in a way where it prevents identification Public assemblies Masking to protect one's face against the weather or worn for another worthy purpose Does not apply in Greenland or the Faroe Islands France 2010 Burqas, niqābs, motorcycle full face helmets, balaclavas, hoods and other face-covering veils Public places Full face helmets worn on motorcycles Upheld by the ECtHR in 2014 Germany 1985 Items suitable and intended to prevent identification Open-air public assemblies or other open-air public events or on the way there Competent authorities may provide exemptions if there is no threat to public safety or public order Italy 1975 Any mask or clothing that obstructs identification In public (unspecified) Exceptions are allowed for a "justified cause" There are disagreements whether one's religion is a "justified cause" Netherlands 2019 Burqas, niqabs, motorcycle full face helmets, balaclavas Public transport, in buildings and associated yards of educational, governmental and healthcare institutions Face covering for doing one's job or sport, for health or security, in healthcare residences In force since 1 August 2019 Latvia 2016? Hoods, masks, burqas, niqabs or objects to cover one's face Public places Islamic face veil to be banned in Latvia Norway 1995 Masks (unspecified) Public events such as demonstrations, marches, meetings, stands or similar Spain 2013 Face-coverings (unspecified) Public demonstrations Sweden 2005 Face-coverings (unspecified) that complicate identification Public demonstrations where public order is or may be disturbed Does not apply to religion-motivated face-coverings, or when demonstrators are authorised to cover their facesSwitzerland 2021 Burqas, niqabs or other face-covering veils Masks worn for medical reasons
Austria In Austria since 2002, masking ban on demonstrations under § 9 of the Assembly Law (Versammlungsgesetz). Violation of the ban need not be prosecuted if the mask does not threaten public order and security. Violation of the ban entails, according to § 19a.b of the Law, imprisonment up to six months, repeated offenses one year or a fine.
Parliament approved new legislation on 16 May 2017, which stipulates that people who wear clothing that covers their faces, such as burqas, niqabs, full face helmets or scarves (motorcyclists) etc. in places like universities, public transportation or courthouses will face fines of 150 euros (about $167). The measure took effect in October 2017. Shortly after the enactment on 1 October 2017, there were some incidents in which people were incorrectly fined by the police, leading some commentators to point out flaws in the law, or incorrect understanding of it amongst the police.
Belgium A Belgian law adopted in June 2011 prohibits appearing in public "with a face masked or hidden, in whole or in part, in such a way as to be unidentifiable". Violations can result in fines and up to seven days in jail. On 11 July 2017 the ban in Belgium was upheld by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) after having been challenged by two Muslim women who claimed their rights had been infringed.
Denmark Wearing masks or other objects that cover the face in a way where identification is prevented during assemblies in a public place is illegal in Denmark. The Danish Penal Code § 134 b, effective from 3 June 2000, makes the violation punishable by a fine or up to six months imprisonment. Part 2 of § 134 b further criminalizes the possession of effects which must be viewed as intended to be used for masking in an assembly. The §134 b, part 3, exempts from penalty masking which is done to protect one's face against the weather or worn for another worthy purpose. The ban does not apply in the autonomous territories of Greenland or the Faroe Islands.
France
The French ban on face covering is an act of parliament passed by the Senate of France on 14 September 2010, resulting in the ban on the wearing of face-covering headgear, including masks, helmets, balaclava, niqābs and other veils covering the face in public places, except under specified circumstances.
Germany Since 1985, according to § 17a Abs. 2 Versammlungsgesetz it is prohibited to disguise one's identity in public meetings such as demonstrations so as to prevent identification by police. This violation can be fined with imprisonment up to one year.
Italy In Italy, a law issued in 1975 strictly forbids wearing of any attire that could hide the face of a person. Penalties (fines and imprisonment) are provided for such behaviour. The original purpose of the anti-mask law was to prevent crime or terrorism. The law allows for exemptions for a "justified cause", which has sometimes been interpreted by courts as including religious reasons for wearing a veil, but others –including local governments– disagree and claim religion is not a "justified cause" in this context.
Latvia In Latvia, a law issued in 2016 to ban niqab and burqa in entire country was passed by Latvian parliament.
Netherlands In the Netherlands, a first attempt towards a partial prohibition on face covering was made from 2012 to 2015, but the bill was struck down. A new attempt was made in the years after when a new bill was submitted on 27 November 2015. Eventually a limited anti-mask law was passed on 26 June 2018. The law is called Instelling van een gedeeltelijk verbod op het dragen van gezichtsbedekkende kleding in het onderwijs, het openbaar vervoer, overheidsgebouwen en de zorg (Wet gedeeltelijk verbod gezichtsbedekkende kleding) ("Introduction of a partial ban on the wearing of face-covering clothing in education, public transport, governmental buildings and healthcare (Partial Face-Covering Clothing Ban Act)"). It is illegal to wear clothing which covers the entire face, or covered up to the point where only the eyes are uncovered, or renders the face unrecognisable, on public transport and in buildings and associated yards of educational institutions, governmental institutions and healthcare institutions. Frequently cited examples are a full face helmet, a balaclava, a burqa or a niqāb. Clothes exempt from the Act are: those worn by clients, patients or their visitors in residential parts of healthcare institutions; those necessary for the protection of the body in relation to health or security; those necessary in relation to the requirements made to the performance of a profession or sport.
On 26 June 2018, the bill was passed in the Dutch Senate.
Norway Concealment of faces in public is legal in Norway, except when taking part in a public event.
Exempted from the prohibition of concealment in public events are participants in theatre, masquerade or similar. In accordance with the Norwegian police law, violation is punishable by a fine or up to three months imprisonment.
Russia According to a Russian federal law "On assemblies, meetings, demonstrations, marches and picketing", Article 6 as of June 2012: