Australian stadiums playing host to the biggest concerts and sporting events in the country have been called out over their use of facial recognition cameras.
Consumer group CHOICE claims consumers have been left in the dark by the controversial technology, which can be used to collect “sensitive” data and is often deployed “without consumers’ knowledge or consent”.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Stadiums investigated after using facial recognition cameras.
Watch the latest News on Channel 7 or stream for free on 7plus >>
Facial recognition technology (FRT) involves the use of cameras to collect and remember a person’s “unique faceprint” and clothing.
“It is extremely concerning that FRT is being used at major concert and sporting venues across the country without any kind of clear information for consumers about where, how and why it is being used,” CHOICE consumer data advocate Kate Bower said.
The group said it analysed the privacy policies and conditions of entry of ten stadiums and stadium operators around Australia, finding many allowed for the use of facial recognition.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground, which has a capacity of more than 100,000 people for sporting matches, Sydney Cricket Ground (48,000) and Allianz Stadium (45,000), also in Sydney, are among those that state that FRT is in use in their conditions of entry.
But CHOICE argued stadiums and operators need to go further and make it clear to customers when and why their data is being shared or stored.
“I think one of the main problems from a consumer’s perspective is that they don’t know when facial recognition is being used and then when they are told that it is being used, it’s very deep in some conditions of entry or privacy policy,” Bower said.
“They often don’t find out about it until after they’ve already bought a ticket.
”But then even when they do find out, they have no idea what it’s being used for, they’ve got no idea how long their information is stored, how securely it’s stored. The consumers don’t really have a choice.”
The MCG’s condition of entry states “patrons consent to the collection of biometric information for what is reasonably necessary”, while Venues NSW, which owns and operates the SCG and Allianz stadiums, said “we abide strictly with our privacy obligations” and “we do not monetise facial recognition data”.
The privacy policy for ASM Global, which operates RAC Arena (Perth), Qudos Bank Arena (Sydney), Aware Super Theatre (Sydney) and Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane), says personal data “we collect and use may include” images from facial recognition systems operated at venues — if they have them.
CHOICE said one of the major concerns is the link between biometric data collection and firms that benefit financially from selling that data.
And while some stadiums said there was signage alerting punters to the facial recognition cameras, some customers claimed it was not always obvious.
Venue operators argue the technology allows for a smoother experience for customers, whose identity can be quickly authenticated, while a spokesperson for Qudos Bank Arena said the technology helps identify people who have been evicted or banned, and told CHOICE images were stored for a “period of time”.
Lauren Perry from the Human Technology Institute said FRT should not be used as a default.
Surveillance technology
“We’re talking here about semi-public places where community members, including a lot of children, gather and watch sports events and entertainment,” Perry said.
“In this context, the risks of using surveillance technologies to our civil and human rights really appear to outweigh any benefits to the sorts of security incidents you’d potentially be seeing at an event like a sporting match.”
Bower said the federal government needed to take action to protect consumers.
”I think what we really need to see is a business being more transparent and leading by example, but we also need stronger regulators to be able to hold them to account and to actually give some clear guidelines about what is a safe and responsible use of this technology, which can be incredibly harmful and invasive and also comes with a high level of security risk,” Bower said.
A spokesperson for Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the government recently finished a review of the privacy act which considered emerging technologies such as facial recognition technology and is now weighing up how “best to respond to the new challenges and ensure we can properly protect privacy in the digital age”.
“Individuals can complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner if they believe facial recognition technology has been used without their knowledge or consent,” the spokesperson said.
If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your .
To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.