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

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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From: "Mackenzie, Kate" <mackenziek () theaustralian com au>
To: "'Declan McCullagh'" <declan () well com>
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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