Michelle Rowland gained’t rule out good glasses ban amid privateness push

Australians will quickly be capable of lock down their credentials and request the deletion of non-public knowledge underneath proposed adjustments, with the federal government additionally scrutinising good glasses amid surveillance issues.

As a part of this, the federal government is introducing IDLock, a digital service that can let folks monitor and block how key id paperwork are verified on-line.

Set to launch securely by means of myGov, the service marks a shift from responding after a cyber incident to serving to stop id theft earlier than it happens.

At the identical time, upcoming privateness laws will introduce a “right to erasure”, permitting people to request that giant digital platforms akin to social media and search companies destroy their private info.

Media organisations publishing information articles will probably be exempt.

The overhaul comes as rising expertise akin to synthetic intelligence and recording-enabled good glasses creates new avenues for covert surveillance and harassment.

Ms Rowland described calls to curb using the expertise as “valid” however informed reporters in Canberra: “Firstly, I want to acknowledge the very deep concerns. We are not specifically in this consultation consulting on an import ban. … that would have consequences across government, including across trade, foreign affairs, and other potential legal obligations that can apply internationally.”

She added the federal government was not “ruling anything out” in relation to an import ban however reiterated it will focus its crackdown on regulating dangerous behaviours.

Ms Rowland not too long ago highlighted “widespread community concerns about the potential impacts of smart glasses, particularly for women and children” and mentioned she had written to the Privacy Commissioner asking that the problem obtain “priority consideration”.

Postdoctoral analysis affiliate Milica Stilinovic warned the gadgets had given “pick-up artists a new tool to exploit women”.

“We call it ‘ambient capture’ because it is a state of play in which men might seem disarming,” Dr Stilinovic mentioned.

“They will stalk and harass you in places of work, the stairwell of your apartment building, on the street, in the gym, and at the beach – places where you’d assume some sort of right to privacy.

“You don’t know if you’re being filmed; that footage is then uploaded, exposing you to a wider web of harassment.”

In a previous assertion, Ms Rowland mentioned Australians “deserve to have control” over how private id info, akin to a driver’s licence or passport, is used to confirm id on-line.

“As data breaches, scams and cyber-enabled crime continue to evolve, Australia’s approach must evolve with them,” Ms Rowland mentioned.

She mentioned the brand new erasure rights would type a part of a broader effort to strengthen privateness protections.

“The right to erasure will help put more control in the hands of Australians, allowing personal information to be destroyed from large digital platforms,” Ms Rowland mentioned.

“We must ensure appropriate safeguards are placed around technology and stop the erosion of our privacy protections.”

Initial early-access testing for IDLock is because of start later this 12 months, forward of a broader nationwide rollout in 2027, with the publicity draft for the privateness reforms to be launched on Monday.