Computerworld (Australia) | Privacy group slams biometrics code of conduct.

Privacy advocates have dubbed the development of a privacy code of conduct for the biometrics industry an "abject failure" after being excluded from consultations.

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Australian Privacy Foundation (APF) and Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) board member Roger Clarke said the code will be a failure if there is no consultation that includes public interest advocacy, as such groups would be keen to contribute and make a submission to the development of guidelines for the biometrics industry and users.

Key points that should be included in the scope of the code, he said, should cover 'privacy of person'. Like blood tests, biometric technology extracts information from a person in addition to restricting behaviour, because people behave differently during surveillance, he said.

Clarke said the code is even more critical if it covers workplace issues and not just its use in the public domain, because employers exercise a level of power that could raise additional privacy concerns.

"Wherever biometrics are used there needs to be a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) similar to Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) which are generally accepted whenever there is action taken that could impact on the environment," he said.

[Privacy Digest]
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