9 stories this week:
Missing Persons Week prompts calls for information on human remains found in South Australia – 4 August 2022
Police have renewed calls for public assistance during National Missing Persons Week, as there are 147 missing persons in South Australia. Detectives say Forensic technology is more advanced than ever.
Syndicate dismantled following investigation into identity theft and bank fraud – 5 August 2022
Financial Crimes Squad detectives have charged four people and dismantled a criminal syndicate, allegedly involved in multiple identity and banking frauds totalling more than $1 million. Police will allege in court the syndicate created a number of shell companies to assist with obtaining cheque books, EFTPOS terminals, and the creation of banking profiles which were then used to procure fraudulent funds.
Prosecutors seek suppression orders in case against tax office whistleblower Richard Boyle – 5 August 2022
Boyle is attempting to use Australia’s whistleblower protections to shield himself from prosecution. The case, being heard in the South Australian district court, is the first major test of the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PID Act). It will be crucial in assessing the strength and practical effectiveness of the nation’s whistleblower protections, which the new attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, is contemplating reforming.
NSW casinos to face AUD$100M fines for misconduct under new reforms – 5 August 2022
Australian Casinos in New South Wales could face fines of up to AUD$100M for misconduct under new reforms announced this week. The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) announced it will have powers to fine operators up to AUD$100M and hold individual board members and execs accountable for “serious wrongdoing.”
https://www.amlintelligence.com/2022/08/latest-nsw-casinos-to-face-aud100m-fine-for-misconduct/
UK Plans To Use Smartwatches & Facial Recognition To Surveil Convicted Migrants – 6 August 2022
Migrants convicted of a crime in the U.K. may soon have to submit five daily facial recognition scans, via a smartwatch as part of sweeping new surveillance practices under consideration by the country’s Home Office and Ministry of Justice. Privacy advocates say the always-on surveillance wearable is cruel, unnecessary, and based on technology plagued by inaccuracy and bias.
Are Australians sleep-walking their way into mass surveillance? – 8 August 2022
Australia is failing to take our digital privacy seriously, warns former human rights commissioner Ed Santow. We don’t get a lot of choice about consenting to digital companies’ privacy policies and how they collect our information, so we actually need to read terms and conditions before agreeing.
https://psnews.com.au/2022/08/08/are-australians-sleep-walking-their-way-into-mass-surveillance/
Investors advised to watch for scams – 9 August 2022
ACCC Deputy chair has stated ‘that financial losses to imposter bond investment scams has nearly tripled in the first half of this year, with more than $20 million lost by consumers to the sophisticated scams’. These scams impersonate real financial companies or banks and claim to offer Government/Treasury bonds or fixed term deposit.
https://psnews.com.au/2022/08/09/investors-advised-to-watch-for-scams/
Telco Circles.Life Fined $200,000 For Fraud Rule Breach – 9 August 2022
Circles.Life, a Singapore-based telco, is facing a fine of $200,000 for breaching fraud regulations. The budget telco that makes use of the Optus network, was called out by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), who found that the company failed to conduct proper identity checks. This in turn, resulted in 42 consumers falling victim to fraud with compromised emails and bank accounts.
https://www.channelnews.com.au/fraud-rule-breach-costs-telco-circles-life-200000/
Pubs are buying facial recognition technology to track and record you – 10 August 2022
The Australasian Gaming Expo in Sydney this week had exhibitions from multiple companies selling facial recognition technology. They can identify patrons, track their movements and even record their emotions. The Australian Human Rights Commission called for a moratorium on facial recognition technology in “high-risk” decision-making until it was further regulated. Former commissioner and now UTS Professor Edward Santow is part of a group drafting model regulation that is set to be released later this year.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2022/08/10/pubs-facial-recognition-surveillance/
