Coalition could allow firms to buy access to facial recognition data

The federal government is considering allowing private companies to use its national facial recognition database for a fee, documents released under Freedom of Information laws reveal. The partially redacted documents show that the Attorney General's Department is in discussions with major telecommunications companies about pilot programs for private sector use of the Facial Verification Service in 2018. The documents also indicate strong interest from financial institutions in using the database. The government has argued that the use of facial recognition is necessary for national security and to cut down on crimes such as identity fraud. The Attorney General's Department says private companies could only use the service with the person's consent.