Police in South Australia have indicated that they will use the facial recognition capability of the new security cameras that are being installed in Adelaide, although Adelaide City Council has asked them not to do so.
Key points:
- For some demographics, facial recognition makes incorrect identifications more than four out of five times
- The Prime Minister says he wants to see frameworks to ensure that the use of technology does not infringe on the privacy of the general public.
- Adelaide City Council will vote at the end of the month on improving the cameras
The council is about to launch a $ 3 million federal-funded upgrade for the city’s aging cameras, installing new 360-degree units that will allow the use of facial recognition software and license plates. matching faces with databases provided by government or private companies.
Currently, the existing network is controlled by the SA Police, which already uses some facial recognition tools in certain investigations.
Last year, the council, noting its concern about the lack of legal guarantees for facial recognition, voted to ask the police to formally commit to delaying the use of this feature with the new cameras until ‘pass new laws.
“We are comfortable funding CCTV camera upgrades,” said Deputy Mayor Arman Abrahimzadeh.
“We know that these improvements are necessary for public safety and we have requested a guarantee from the SA police to ensure that this facial recognition component will not be activated until the legislation is in place.”
However, SA police still disagree and, in a statement, told the ABC that the technology would be useful.
“Facial recognition technology can significantly accelerate research by automating the visualization of large volumes of vision, a painstaking task for researchers.
“There are no legislative restrictions on the use of facial recognition technology in South Australia for investigations.
“In the event that facial recognition capability is available, researchers will consider the seriousness of the matter and the probative value in determining whether it is appropriate to use the technology.”
Existing cameras are often used to investigate and solve crimes.
However, facial recognition is a relatively new skill with little current regulation.
Adelaide City security cameras are receiving an update, which will include facial recognition capability. (ABC News: Brant Cumming)
Australia has no specific laws governing the use of facial recognition technology, and last year the Human Rights Commission recommended that the federal government enforce a moratorium on its use in “high-risk environments”, such as now law enforcement, until there are stronger guarantees.
Facial recognition is widely used to identify and monitor citizens in China.
In Australia, some big retailers have been using the technology without most of us knowing it.
“It seems to have had no public consultation, no public discussion, and certainly no parliamentary discussion about how it will be implemented, used, and used,” said Tammy Franks, MLC of SA Greens.
“We know that for some demographics, more than four out of five identifications are incorrect.
“If you had the wrong fingerprints, more than four out of five times, the police would not use them.
“So if the police are going to use facial recognition technology, we need some safeguards for our privacy, but also if it works.”
Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas said the state government had asked the Attorney General’s Department to conduct a review of current laws.
“I think all South Australians are confident that when SAPOL uses facial recognition technology, it’s about keeping the community safe … [but,] wherever that happens, we need to make sure we have the right framework so that people’s individual freedoms and privacy are not compromised, “Malinauskas said.
The council is due to vote at the end of the month if camera updates begin.
A public meeting on the subject will be held on June 27 at Adelaide City Hall, and the council will have to vote on whether to approve the first tranche of funding for the new chambers the following evening.
Posted 23 hours ago 23 hours ago dig. June 19, 2022 at 7:05 PM, updated 23 hours ago 23 hours ago dig. June 19, 2022 at 7:05 p.m.