Australia is pressing ahead with its long-debated National Driver License Facial Recognition Solution (NDLFRS), a nationwide biometric network linking driver’s license and passport data to create a unified digital identity verification system. The Department of Home Affairs will oversee the project, with each state maintaining its own records. Officials say the system will protect citizens from identity theft, prevent crime, and improve public safety. Tasmania, Victoria, and South Australia have already contributed their data, and Western Australia is expected to join by year’s end. A related program—the Face Verification Service (FVS)—is set to launch in 2025, enabling both government agencies and private businesses to authenticate individuals through facial scans.

However, privacy advocates and opposition lawmakers warn that the rollout is moving too quickly without sufficient legal safeguards. Critics argue that the program’s framework lacks robust oversight and could expose highly sensitive biometric data to misuse or cyberattacks. Greens Senator David Shoebridge condemned the plan, saying it risks turning Australia into a surveillance state before adequate privacy protections are in place. He cautioned that “facial recognition data is some of the most personal information that can be shared online,” and current laws do not guarantee its safety. Though the government promises human oversight and non-biometric alternatives, many see the NDLFRS as another step toward mass surveillance—a digital infrastructure capable of tracking every citizen under the guise of convenience and security.

SOURCE: Reclaim the Net