Australia could be about to get modern day sci fi technology in the form of Biometrics which would infiltrate pub, club and casino poker machines... and if you're not careful, the brain... just kidding, we think. Media Man and Gambling911 probe the potentially diabolical biometrics as the war between 'big brother' and citizens - man and machine continues...
Australia's Privacy Act Needs To Be Updated For Biometrics Pokie Tech...
The Australian government sees a big place for biometrics as part of its "ultimate solution" to try to beat "problem gambling".
Australia's Privacy Act will need to be impressed and made more water tight, and concise guidelines created, if the federal government wants to use "biometric" technology in its plans to curb pokies, according to a large technology group.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard warned the states that the government will absolutely impose regulation if a mandatory "pre-commitment technology" to slow poker machine use is not in place by this May.
The Biometrics Institute general manager Isabelle Moeller advised that strict national laws restricting the use of captured data would be required to ensure clubs, pubs and casinos adequately protect and do not abuse sensitive customer information.
Insiders say that the federal Government does want to use biometric technology.
The government is officially "seriously considering" the controversial plan as part of a deal to secure the support of independent MP Andrew Wilkie, the pokie hating one.
P.M Julia Gillard warned the states that the government will impose regulation if a mandatory "pre-commitment technology" to curb poker machine use is not in place by May.
Biometrics which capture data from the human body such as finger and iris (eye) prints have not been ruled out as a means of addressing the government demands, although it has not mandated a technology. That's the official line anyway.
The Biometrics Institute G.M Isabelle Moeller advised that strict national laws restricting the use of captured data would be required to ensure clubs, pubs and casinos adequately protect and do not use and abuse sensitive customer information.
"Who ensures how data is collected and when it is destroyed? The Privacy Act is not specific enough," Moeller said.
She said that biometric data is not included in the Act, and that government agencies and small businesses with revenues less than $3 million are exempt.
The Federal Government is reviewing the Privacy Act in order to introduce a consistent national scheme. It plans to introduce caveats into the Act that will allow it to be more responsive to changes in technology and also fix up inconsistencies in privacy requirements across the states.
The biometric war has been long fought by the institute and Moeller would welcome its end.
"We would like to see the Privacy Act completed and new information taken on from the institute code."
She said Australia is a privacy laggard compared to many other nations that already have or are implementing tougher updated laws.
The institute is still struggling to get members to sign onto its voluntary biometric privacy code (as one might expect) despite having the blessing of the Privacy Commissioner and its context has a 100% tick from the industry, possibly because money talks (as B.S walks).
Moeller went on with the line that its because businesses are reluctant to impose guidelines that may restrict their competitiveness against non-compliant rivals. It would also make it tougher to implement biometrics solutions.
At present, pubs and clubs are charging ahead with biometrics installs, with little or no regard to the code.
Moeller said one business had purchased a cheap off-the-shelf biometric system online which could place customer data at serious risk if it is not adequately secured.
Any biometric solution used to control poker machine use would also be subject to the many well-publicised "obfuscation techniques" through which users steal and reuse fingerprints from the readers. Such an attack would allow gamblers to sign in as another, and bypass the financial controls.
Instructions of how to conduct the attacks, including how to make a replica finger from gelatine, are freely available on the internet.
"The body heat sensor [within biometric devices] might also be affected by holding cold drinks, but I suspect that this would be minimised," information security specialist Christian Heinrich said. "Obviously, other successful published attacks against biometrics would also apply."
The concerns come ahead of news that pubs and clubs are gearing up for a coordinated and well-financed advertising campaign to smear the government's plans to impose gambling monitoring.
Industry figures have said the campaign will be like the mining industry's mass-media attempt to attack the government's super-profits tax.
Heinrich said the industry could use biometrics as a physiological deterrent within the campaign by appealing to public fears that the technology is akin to "taking one's soul"!
Punters and pokies kings have half joked about the "taking one's soul" line.
Bart Simpson from the well known Simpson's family, would comment on the quote, but News Corp would like to be kept in the loop, no doubt wanting to keep its PR up to speed on the matter.
Awards...
Last month was a big month for casino awards. Let's have a look...
PartyGaming's PartyCasino has also come back with seconds, picking up another Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month Award' for November, and also the parent company, PartyGaming, picked up the prestigious EGR Slots Operator Of The Year Award ...Some other top picks of ours who picked up awards at the EGR night of nights were:
Virgin Games (Affiliate Programme)
Betfair (Innovation, Mobile Operator and UK Sports Betting Operator)
Bwin (European Sports Betting Operator
PKR (Poker Operator)
Oh, we almost forgot...Media Man and Casino News Media 'Casino Babe Of The Month': Jenny Woo, 'Poker Babe': Kara Scott, 'Gambling Babe Personality': Pamela Anderson.
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Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
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