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Australia Discontinues Its National Biometric ID Project (gizmodo.com.au)

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's (ACIC) biometrics project, which adds facial recognition to a national crime database, is being discontinued following reports of delays and budget blowouts. From a report: This announcement comes after the project was suspended earlier this month and NEC Australia staff were escorted out of the building by security on Monday June 4. [...] ACIC contracted the NEC for the $52 million Biometric Identification Services project with the view of replacing the fingerprint identification system that is currently in place. The aim of the project, which was supposed to run until 2021, was to include palm print, foot prints and facial recognition to aid in police investigations. The Australian government stated that it wanted to provide Australians with a single digital identity by 2025.

1 of 42 comments (clear)

  1. A win for privacy-loving Australians! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    A win for privacy-loving Australians!
    Mandatory govt tracking is against human rights.
    Voluntary govt tracking is different, like a passport. That is completely voluntary.