Australia bets on facial recognition to deter problem gamblers despite concerns over rights
- The facial recognition cameras would only be used to enforce the self-exclusion scheme, said gambling industry bodies
- But digital rights groups said the tech is ineffective in stopping problem gambling and could go on to be used for wider surveillance
The tech – which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify addicts who have asked to be barred from betting sites – is set to be rolled out across gambling venues in the state of New South Wales next year.
Supporters say it will help curb problem gambling in a country where the addiction affects about 1 per cent of the population and annual losses run to billions of dollars.
But the technology is “invasive, dangerous and undermines our most basic and fundamental rights”, said Samantha Floreani, programme lead at Digital Rights Watch, a non-profit.
“We should be exceptionally wary of introducing it into more areas of our lives, and it should not be seen as a simple quick-fix solution to complex social issues,” she said.
The Warilla Hotel did not respond to requests for comment. Its website states it supports “responsible” gambling.
