FC: Australia will scan passport photos, use face-recognition for ID

From: Declan McCullagh (declanat_private)
Date: Wed May 15 2002 - 07:28:39 PDT

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    From: "Mackenzie, Kate" <mackenziekat_private>
    To: "'Declan McCullagh'" <declanat_private>
    Subject: Australia to trial biometric passport ID
    Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 17:50:25 +1000
    
    
    Among the measures announced in the Australian federal budget last night:
    
    
    BIOMETRIC technology to compare people's faces with their passport
    photographs will be trialled under Budget measures aimed at reducing the
    risk of terrorist attacks.
    
    Treasurer Peter Costello has allocated $3 million to test if a new "facial
    biometric identifier" now under development can virtually eradicate the
    potential for passport fraud.
    
    Initially, the identifier would be used to scan millions of existing
    passport photographs stored in Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
    files. According to government officials, the identifier uses digital
    technology to match each photograph by recording the distinctive
    characteristics of the passport-holder's face.
    
    When a person applies for a new passport, the identifier compares the
    features of the stored photograph with the applicant's face to ensure the
    application is legitimate. "Even if the photograph is 10 years old, and the
    person has since gone bald or grown a beard, the biometric identifier is
    capable of making a positive match," an official told The Australian.
    
    http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,4323132%5E15306%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html
    
    
    regards,
    Kate
    
    
    Kate Mackenzie
    Journalist
    The Australian
    http://www.australianIT.com.au
    
    
    
    
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