Correct me if I'm wrong, but facial recognition software, and common sense, can see past glasses, right?
I think even with common sense, it would just be hard for people to believe Clark is Superman. Simply because you don't expect the guy that can topple mountains, to work as a Journalist. Or really do any regular job. You'd look at him and be all like "Is that... Is that Superman? Nah, can't be. No way he'd work here."
Right...
And the glasses thing is supposed to be just gimicky.. you're supposed to just accept it...
I really have no problem with it, because this is a fantasy... superhero one at that... so, there're bound to be some things that you just need to 'accept as is' and enjoy the movie...
What's funny to me is that some fans actually think it's a good disguise in reality...
But since he comes out of hiding and isn't wearing a mask, it is fair to assume that most people will believe he gave up hiding altogether.
Think about it, the general population does not know he was sent as a baby, they only know he has been hiding on Earth. There is no reason for anyone to assume he came to earth a helpless child who needed parents to raise him. He displays god like powers, it probably won't even occur to him that he ages like a human.
All that being said, it will take the same suspension of disbelief that it always took. The writers have to be thoughtful in how they handle it and other than the residents of Smallville and the military, it was handled pretty well in MoS. The cop who take Lois to the farm is reasonably out of ear shot and Clark turns away from the cop, Perry and crew are at a distance where they do not get a clear view of Superman's face, etc.
If you layer in the military potentially knowing that leads actually to the possibility of the govt having his back and actually running interference for him...could be some interesting developments from that angle...
After the MOS events, the government could tell the public he's full-time Superman cooperating with them. The government asks Lois for all her contacts and they track down the people to make them stay quiet. The military would want to keep Superman close and in secret for a variety of reasons: they may look at him as weapon and they don't want anyone else to find out things about him before they do plus he's a national asset. More importantly, they would want the public perception to be that they are in control of Superman. They would try to manage Superman as much as possible, but Superman isn't going to be their puppet 24/7 so they arrange to protect his identity allowing him to have a life outside Superman.
In the meantime, there would be a debate whether Superman is a savior or the cause of the destruction and how much he can be trusted. Lex could expose the government's actions as a conspiracy and play up people's fears.