The Gillard Government's new privacy legislation has removed the ban on biometric data being handed to crime-fighting agencies.Note: "Facial scan" is another term for "Photo."
Officials say the move could be of immense benefit in fighting crime, but privacy lobbyists liken it to a "Big Brother" development.
The Attorney-General's Department yesterday revealed police would be able to ask private companies - including shops, pubs and clubs - to hand over patrons' facial scans.
"These changes will allow, for example, a pub to pass on to police a face scan of someone involved in a glassing attack," a spokeswoman said.
"Or, police could ask a government agency to help them identify an alleged murderer through matching an image obtained via CCTV (closed circuit television) with client photos."
If the police can't ask for evidence helpful in solving a crime, why have police (or privately owned CCTV cameras) in the first place?
Biometric technology, like all analytic tools, works both ways. It can eliminate suspects as well as indicting them.
