Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Attendant Current
Flight Attendant Airline Total 3
Confusion; Other / Unknown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure; Human Factors
Upon doing the cabin sweep; I notice [Passenger in] X1 talking on the phone and asked her to turn it off. I only knew she was on the phone because her phone was facing up in her palm and I could see the active phone call with the phone screen. She seemed to act like she was complying; but she was still talking. Her mic for the phone was inside of her mask; so I would never have been able to say she was on the phone had I not seen the phone. I told the forward she was still on the phone.People hide their cell phone microphones in the masks all the time. It is hard to tell when they are actively talking or just singing along to a tune.If it is so hard for me to discern an active phone call is taking place with a passengers face covered;  I have to wonder what else people can hide inside a mask that could cause me; fellow passengers; crew or the plane harm. 3D printers can make all kinds of gadgets - including sharp objects - that could hide in a mask; not to mention the possibility of any kind of explosive that could be detonated between the teeth.COVID masks - supposedly are for crew and passenger safety; but these federal masks on airplanes create more safety concerns. I know the masks appear to keep us safe from the dreaded COVID; but the reality is the masks pose a much greater safety risk than COVID. I can't see what people are actually doing (talking on the phone or not). I can't identify a human trafficking victim from any other masked passenger. I can't identify a bad actor hiding in a mask from an innocent one in a mask. I can't smell alcohol; smoke; or even jet fuel when wearing a mask; which is required of me at all times - especially in my jump seat.The ability to do my job as a safety professional on an aircraft is greatly reduced thanks to these mask mandates. I am really surprised that the FAA and airlines care more about the optics of safety than the actual safety on board a plane these days.
Flight Attendant reported concern regarding the face mask policy as it covers a passenger's identity and creates a possible way to hide unwanted items under the mask.