Australia police COVID-19 quarantine facial recognition trial draws concerns

A trial of facial recognition software by Australian provinces South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales prompted concerns from civil rights groups and others over a lack of privacy safeguards. 

Police in the two states trialled facial recognition software that enabled them to check whether people were quarantining at home during COVID-19. In the trial, people had to respond to random check-in requests by taking a photo of themselves at their designated home quarantine address. 

Sofware manufacturer Genvis claimed the trial was voluntary. However, the authorities ere entitled to follow up with a visit to the location to confirm the person's whereabouts should the software not verify the image against their 'facial signature'. 

Rights advocates warned the technology may be inaccurate, threaten people's privacy, and be used by the police for other purposes.

➖ September 2021. South Australia state trialled a similar, non-Genvis technology, sparking warnings from privacy advocates around the world about potential surveillance overreach.