Filippo Grandi

Published 22 May 2024
Read the keynote address prepared for delivery by Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind for the Biometrics Institute Asia-Pacific Conference on Wednesday 22 May 2024.

Introduction

• I have known the Biometrics Institute for some time, and appreciate the invitation to speak.
• I have seen first-hand how biometrics registration and identity systems can be used to great effect, for example, to assist in the registration of refugees who have had to flee their homes without paper identity documents.

The risks of biometrics

• However, I have also observed the range of risks and harms that can happen in the context of the use of biometrics systems, and heard first-hand from the public their concerns in this regard.
• Prior to taking on the role of Privacy Commissioner, I was the director of the Ada Lovelace Institute, and we undertook a large-scale public deliberation on biometrics technologies.
• Because, as we all know, there is something different about biometrics.

Intersection with the Privacy Act

• In Australia, we have an emerging picture of how biometric technologies can be used consistently with the Privacy Act.
• Facial recognition technologies and other automatic biometric identification technologies should only be used when it is reasonably necessary for, and the risks to privacy are proportional to, the functions or activity.
• The OAIC found that Clearview AI breached Australians’ privacy by scraping their biometric information from the web and disclosing it through a facial recognition tool.
• The Australian Information Commissioner determined that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) failed to comply with its privacy obligations in using the Clearview AI facial recognition tool.
• Commissioner Falk found the AFP failed to complete a privacy impact assessment before using the tool, in breach of the Australian Government Agencies Privacy Code, which requires a privacy impact assessment for all high privacy risk projects.

Looking ahead – Privacy Act reforms

• The federal Attorney-General shared earlier this month that at the request of the Prime Minister, he will bring forward legislation in August to overhaul the Privacy Act.
• Privacy law reform will up the standards for consent, bring into scope a larger subset of the Australian economy, and expands the powers of the OAIC to enforce privacy law.
• Also of note for the biometrics sector are reforms around consent management and data deletion and retention.

Privacy at the forefront of Digital ID scheme

• While we wait for Privacy Act reforms, we will begin applying higher legislated standard to biometric information immediately, with the passage of the Digital ID Bill last week
  The OAIC will be the privacy regulator for the Digital ID scheme and will use a range of regulatory powers to ensure that individuals’ privacy is protected when using the system.
• The ‘additional privacy safeguards’ in the Digital ID legislation will operate in addition to the general protections under the Privacy Act (or equivalent state or territory privacy legislation).
• The OAIC’s regulatory role under the Digital ID legislation will include oversight of breaches of the additional privacy safeguards by all accredited entities, including state and territory agencies.

Conclusion

• SYDNEY, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading multi-asset broker, Vantage Markets (or Vantage), is pleased to announce the ongoing impact of its contribution to support the protection and resettlement of refugees and stateless people in Australia.
• This follows its US$100,000 donation to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in May 2023.
• "Our collaboration with UNHCR underscores our commitment to creating a more inclusive and compassionate world," said Jack Kelly, Head of Sales, Vantage Australia.
• With the funding support from Vantage, UNHCR had sufficient resources to support her mental health and complete the necessary interviews for resettlement to New Zealand.

• SAO PAULO, March 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vantage Foundation is pleased to announce its partnership with Instituto Claret, a reputable charitable organisation in Brazil.
• Instituto Claret offers a range of programmes including support for children, families, violence prevention, homeless assistance, food security, and vocational training.
• This initiative with Instituto Claret is part of a series of programmes run by Vantage Foundation , underscoring the organisation's ongoing commitment to making a positive impact worldwide.
• "Vantage Foundation remains steadfast in our commitment to creating positive change in meaningful ways around the world," expressed Steven Xie, Executive Director of Vantage Foundation.

• NEW YORK, March 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- UNIQLO today announces the launch of a charity T-shirt collection featuring winning designs from the 2023 Youth with Refugees Art Contest co-organized with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
• In 2023, UNHCR and UNIQLO co-organized the contest, engaging customers around the world to support refugees through the purchase of a special collection of T-shirts.
• In addition to a direct donation of $100,000 UNIQLO will make to UNHCR, it will also donate $3 to UNHCR for each purchase of a T-shirt from the collection.
• UNIQLO will also donate 5,000 T-shirts and 1,000 tote bags from the collection to UNHCR.1 UNHCR will also sell these items internally at the online UNHCR Visibility Shop2, with all proceeds used for UNHCR's refugee support activities.