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Despite its widespread and growing use, most Australians know very little about facial recognition.
New research out of Victoria’s Monash University has revealed that the majority of Australians have no understanding of how facial recognition technology works.
In fact, despite the use of the technology by entertainment venues and retailers, and it being a key part of the federal government’s plans for a Digital ID scheme, only 5 per cent of the population believe they have a solid understanding of it.
Nonetheless, the survey of just over 2,000 Australian adults found that many people had strong opinions about how facial technology should be used.
Eighty per cent of respondents were fine with the technology being used to identify the victims of combat or natural disasters, while 61 per cent feel it’s fine to use it as a form of age verification to access online gambling. Fifty-one per cent also support its use to limit access to pornographic material online.
On the other hand, consent is a key concern, with 90 per cent of Australians wanting to know “when and where” facial recognition is being used.
Similarly, only 15 per cent support its use in retail outlets, while just 16 per cent feel OK about it being used to track the productivity and location of workers.
“The technology is more widespread than many realise – and it’s poised to spread rapidly. In the future, it could be as common as CCTV. This raises real privacy issues,” Professor Mark Andrejevic, the chief researcher of the Australian Public Attitudes to Facial Recognition Technology report, said in a statement.
“People need a better understanding of how, why and where facial recognition systems operate, how their personal data will be processed, used and stored, what kinds of risks they might confront from participating, and what mechanisms hold the technology accountable.”
Andrejevic also noted that many people see the overuse of facial recognition as a human rights issue.
“As we face the transition to more widespread uses of the technology, understanding the level of public awareness and concern about the technology is crucial to ensure that it is deployed in ways that are in accordance with Australian values and commitments,” Andrejevic said.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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