The ugly truth about facial recognition & surveillance — The Democrat

Originally Posted in 2020

Facial recognition technology is now in operation across every jurisdiction in Australia and governments and private companies are fast turning the nation into a surveillance state.

We think that’s a problem, a big problem and we’ve joined a growing body of organisations calling for a moratorium. We need to take stock, understand what’s happening and have a say.

Lorretta Jessop, Democrats human rights campaigner (2020)

Here’s the story.

Fast forward to the present and we are now at risk of becoming an algorithm.

Are you being served or scanned?

‘Smartscreens’ have a discreet camera which detects your age, gender and mood, records your reaction and shares it with advertisers.

Or perhaps you’ve gone to Brisbane’s Lang Park to watch the footy, without realising the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) at the stadium has facial recognition technology which is shared with police?

And it isn’t just the private sector embracing the technology.

Governments are increasing introducing surveillance technologies – but at what cost to our Democratic freedoms?

Some big tech companies – Google and IBM – have a moratorium on developing facial technology.

Welcome to the Surveillance State – is China a glimpse into our Future?

As with any technology, the more familiar it becomes, the more we normalise it as part of our everyday lives. Technology that is introduced in a limited capacity, and with good intentions, such as protection against criminals, may later be expanded, potentially without the public realising. The more surveillance technologies are normalised, the less private space we have and the more we give power to those undertaking the surveillance. This is referred to as surveillance creep .

Will personal data in ‘The Capability’ later be merged with other data? Will we know who has seen our data? When they accessed it?

Will a surveillance state result in people being unfairly targeted and or persecuted?

Many fear that in time, surveillance creep will see surveillance in Australia reach a system like what is operating in China.

China has millions of cameras operating with facial recognition capability.

Who is safeguarding Australia’s privacy?

We all want to be safe from crime and it is the role of government to promote stability and cohesion. However, when San Francisco: the home of Silicon Valley and start-ups, bans facial recognition technology and privacy experts warn against its creeping surveillance powers, Australians should demand to know from government where this is taking us.

It’s the Australia Card on steroids and the evidence suggests it’s none-too-safe.

Loretta Jessop (2020)