Andy and Lyn
A Disturbance in the Force
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/11/13/22511_gold-coast-news.html
Posted in the Queensland Gold Coast Bulleten 2 Day's ago. Big Brother at it's best
November 14, 2008 10:57pm
Licence chip will tell on you
Sue Lappeman
November 13th, 2008
POLICE and Queensland Transport public servants will have access to the personal information and photograph of every motorist in the state when new smart card digital drivers' licences are introduced in 2010.
Legislation to authorise the taking, keeping and use of the personal information, digital photos and digitised signatures, to be stored on a central database, was yesterday introduced into State Parliament despite the technology to produce the licence still being in development.
All licences and identification cards issued by Queensland Transport will progressively be upgraded from 2010 to smart cards, including drivers' licences, Adult Proof of Age cards, driver and rider trainers, tow-truck operator licences, recreational marine licences and taxi, bus and limousine licenses.
The digital smart cards will use facial recognition technology to ensure the licences are not open to identity fraud and an electronic chip to store personal information, including names, addresses, date of birth, gender and height.
Although a three-tier system of access will be introduced to protect the information from abuse, police only have to declare they thought there was reasonable grounds of a risk or serious threat to life or health to access it.
Police and transport inspectors with also be given hand-held smart-card readers to access data on the cards at accident scenes and for traffic offences.
Police would be able to access the information immediately if there was an accident or traffic offence, but would require a judicial order for non-transport related offences. However, if there was grounds to believe there was an emergency situation they could access the files first and get the judicial order later.
"Law enforcement authorities will only be granted access for assistance in investigating illegal activities or in a defined emergency situation where access will help the police where there is an imminent serious risk to safety or health," said Mr Mickel.
He said the new driver's licence would have higher security and better protection against identity fraud than the now-outdated laminated cards. The new licence was still being developed but it would be plastic, credit card-sized and embedded with a computer chip.
It would replace the current laminated card which has been used in Queensland for nearly 20 years.
As with the current laminated licence, the new licence would feature an image of the motorist and their signature.
By using improved technology, the photograph and signature would be digital -- making it much harder to fake.
"Cards with embedded chips are increasingly being adopted around the world because they provide better security than the traditional laminated cards or plastic magnetic stripe cards," said Mr Mickel.
"Fake licences can be used to commit a wide range of crimes, such as money laundering, creating false identities and identity theft.
Between July and December, 2007, the Queensland Police Service recorded 1193 offences of identity theft.
In addition, the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Personal Fraud Survey, released in June, 2008, showed there were 806,000 victims of personal fraud in Australia over 12 months, costing individuals a combined $977 million.
Mr Mickel said the motorist's address would not be shown. Instead, it would be stored electronically on the smart chip.
"This new feature is aimed at personal safety and protection of property. Think of it this way -- does your ATM card show your address? Your credit card? Your Medicare card? No," he said.
"From now on, if a person has lost or had their handbag or wallet stolen, the chance of the driver's licence being used to break into their house is significantly decreased."
It is expected to take five years for all Queensland motorists to get a new licence thorough the standard renewal process.
Posted in the Queensland Gold Coast Bulleten 2 Day's ago. Big Brother at it's best
November 14, 2008 10:57pm
Licence chip will tell on you
Sue Lappeman
November 13th, 2008
POLICE and Queensland Transport public servants will have access to the personal information and photograph of every motorist in the state when new smart card digital drivers' licences are introduced in 2010.
Legislation to authorise the taking, keeping and use of the personal information, digital photos and digitised signatures, to be stored on a central database, was yesterday introduced into State Parliament despite the technology to produce the licence still being in development.
All licences and identification cards issued by Queensland Transport will progressively be upgraded from 2010 to smart cards, including drivers' licences, Adult Proof of Age cards, driver and rider trainers, tow-truck operator licences, recreational marine licences and taxi, bus and limousine licenses.
The digital smart cards will use facial recognition technology to ensure the licences are not open to identity fraud and an electronic chip to store personal information, including names, addresses, date of birth, gender and height.
Although a three-tier system of access will be introduced to protect the information from abuse, police only have to declare they thought there was reasonable grounds of a risk or serious threat to life or health to access it.
Police and transport inspectors with also be given hand-held smart-card readers to access data on the cards at accident scenes and for traffic offences.
Police would be able to access the information immediately if there was an accident or traffic offence, but would require a judicial order for non-transport related offences. However, if there was grounds to believe there was an emergency situation they could access the files first and get the judicial order later.
"Law enforcement authorities will only be granted access for assistance in investigating illegal activities or in a defined emergency situation where access will help the police where there is an imminent serious risk to safety or health," said Mr Mickel.
He said the new driver's licence would have higher security and better protection against identity fraud than the now-outdated laminated cards. The new licence was still being developed but it would be plastic, credit card-sized and embedded with a computer chip.
It would replace the current laminated card which has been used in Queensland for nearly 20 years.
As with the current laminated licence, the new licence would feature an image of the motorist and their signature.
By using improved technology, the photograph and signature would be digital -- making it much harder to fake.
"Cards with embedded chips are increasingly being adopted around the world because they provide better security than the traditional laminated cards or plastic magnetic stripe cards," said Mr Mickel.
"Fake licences can be used to commit a wide range of crimes, such as money laundering, creating false identities and identity theft.
Between July and December, 2007, the Queensland Police Service recorded 1193 offences of identity theft.
In addition, the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Personal Fraud Survey, released in June, 2008, showed there were 806,000 victims of personal fraud in Australia over 12 months, costing individuals a combined $977 million.
Mr Mickel said the motorist's address would not be shown. Instead, it would be stored electronically on the smart chip.
"This new feature is aimed at personal safety and protection of property. Think of it this way -- does your ATM card show your address? Your credit card? Your Medicare card? No," he said.
"From now on, if a person has lost or had their handbag or wallet stolen, the chance of the driver's licence being used to break into their house is significantly decreased."
It is expected to take five years for all Queensland motorists to get a new licence thorough the standard renewal process.
