Problem gamblers could soon "opt-in" to having their faces scanned by facial recognition software, in order to keep them out of some Canberra clubs.
The proposal from ClubsACT would see several venues trial a system, developed by New Zealand-based company COMS Systems Limited.
The technology alerts staff to patrons who have registered themselves for a database if they enter the poker machine or gambling area of a venue.
According to COMS Systems, the technology has already been rolled out in some pubs and clubs in South Australia, and about 170 venues in New Zealand.
ClubsACT Chief Executive Craig Shannon said the system differed from controversial facial recognition technology used by Kmart and Bunnings, which is currently the subject of a privacy watchdog investigation.
"The system is based around the idea that an individual who chooses to self-exclude from a club, who is already part of the self-exclusion regime, would be photographed if they went into a gambling area only," Mr Shannon said.
"It's really just to reinforce their own self-exclusion request."
But Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said ClubsACT's proposal still raised concerns about privacy and the consent of patrons.
"I'm not clear that's the best way forward," Mr Rattenbury said.
"We've certainly encouraged the clubs to engage with the Gambling and Racing Commission to talk about the details of that, to consider restrictions and privacy legislation.
"Also, whether their customers really want this or whether there are other ways we might actually seek to minimise gambling harm."
Mr Rattenbury said while there was similar federal and territory legislation regarding data collection by private organisations, there were currently no ACT laws that prevented the use of biometric data.
"There is Commonwealth privacy legislation that is relevant to the collection and use of biometric data by private organisations and there are a number of pieces of ACT legislation which would be relevant," he said.
Mr Shannon said the system would only be installed in gaming areas of venues, so people who had registered for the program could still use meal and bar areas.
He said, currently, club or pub patrons who had chosen to self-exclude from gambling area could go unnoticed if they entered the poker machine room of a venue from a dining room or bar while staff were busy.
"This is not about filming patrons unknowingly or in any way expanding this beyond the original poker machine or gambling area."
"We're just hoping to add more integrity to the way the self-exclusion regime operates — this is all about the individual opting out of wanting to be in gaming areas and us giving some integrity to that decision."
'Technology takes the human error out'
In South Australia, gaming venues authorised to operate 30 or more poker machines must have approved facial recognition technology installed to identify people who have been barred from gaming areas.
Australian National University Centre for Gambling Research director Aino Suomi said there was not a lot of published data about the use of facial recognition technology to prevent gambling issues in Australia. But she said there had been some promising results.
"We've heard from our South Australian colleagues that this automated identification of gamblers who have self-excluded or been venue-excluded has proven to be effective," Dr Suomi said.
"In the ACT we have had self-exclusion in place for a number of years. This would just be adding another automated process.
"Currently in the ACT if you want to self-exclude – you sign a deed and provide a photo – and you can do this from six months to 36-months and self-exclude from multiple venues.
"I think the use of technology takes the human error out."
But Dr Suomi said there needed to be mechanisms in place to support people who had self-excluded if they were identified by the system.
"You still have to have a human response," she said.
"If [self-excluded people] then want to access venues, what do the venues do?
"How do they support these people who are likely to be in crisis?"
The Attorney-General is currently awaiting a briefing from the ACT's Justice and Community Safety directorate about broader issues regarding facial recognition technology.
Mr Shannon said the system had been installed in several clubs already, but was inactive, and if ClubsACT was given the go-ahead by the government, they could begin the trial within a matter of weeks.
