Anti-gambling groups are calling for an immediate ban on the use of facial recognition in casinos and other gambling venues amid concerns about the need for stronger privacy protections.
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In Tasmania, the government is looking at facial recognition technology in the context of gambling harm minimisation measures.
In Australia there are no overarching laws preventing or regulating the use of facial recognition technology (FRT), allowing its use to go largely unchecked, but it is used within law enforcement, border protection and in retail, while cities are installing the technology within CCTV systems.
Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGM) chief executive Carol Bennett said FRT is already being used in alcohol and gambling venues in some states and territories of Australia.
She said an immediate ban on its use should be implemented until greater privacy protections are put in place.
"The gambling industry has a business model based on exploiting vulnerable people, there is no chance that they can be trusted to self-regulate this technology and unless it is independently regulated it will lead to more gambling harm," Ms Bennett said.
In May, Federal Group indicated it would like to use FRT within its venues, voicing its support in a submission to the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission (TLGC).
"Federal Group supports the implementation of FRT to detect excluded persons at the entry points to all gaming areas containing EGMs within Tasmania," it wrote.
But concerns exist around the privacy of all individuals captured within the technology, and the alternative uses that could arise from data collection, including targeted advertising of certain inviduals.
In its submission, AGM said the gambling industry already uses FRT for "purposes other than identifying individuals who have self-excluded".
"We hold grave concerns around the uses to which the gambling industry, particularly casinos, put facial recognition technology (FRT)...Privacy and consent issues are not well covered by Australian regulations, such as they are, around the use of FRT in gambling venues."
Treasurer Michael Ferguson said the costs, benefits and implementation of facial recognition technolgy, in context of the player exclusion scheme, were investigated by the TLGC.
He said the goverment is still assessing the TLGC's resulting report.
"The Commission has provided its report to the Government. The Government is considering the Commission's advice, and will respond to the report before the end of 2022."
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