Business racing to use facial recognition technology, raising concerns the law is too slow to catch up

Experts say the expanding use of facial recognition technology in Australia is ‘deeply concerning’ and current laws aren’t designed to deal with it. Photograph: Loren Elliott/Reuters

The rollout of facial recognition technology in all New South Wales pubs and clubs shows how business is forging ahead collecting biometric information before the law has had a chance to catch up, experts warn.

The NSW government this week introduced new laws allowing the use of facial recognition throughout pubs and clubs, despite not yet developing rules to guide the rollout.