Australian authorities would increase the power for collecting the biometric data under its latest legislation that would become regulation from next month.
Under the Biometric Act, the citizens of Australia, foreigners who enter the country would require to provide the biometric information and personal identifying data from all the tourists and that also includes the minors.
The regulation permits for biometric information collection expansion including fingerprints and iris scans. The regulation also provides the authorities the powers to collect one or additional personal identifiers from the citizens and non-citizens for the immigration purpose.
It also permits collecting the personal identifiers by an identification test or by different methods like live finger print scans with the handheld device, as mentioned by the Immigration and Border Protection Minister or the border officer.
Presently the DIBP is collecting the signatures, facial images and fingerprints in restricted situations. It is presently collecting the biometric data from the foreigners for the purpose of issuing the visa for determining whether an individual is holding a valid visa or not.
The Australian DIBP has been permitted to provide fingerprints, photos of applicants to the government departments and agencies of Australia and also to the foreign organizations and nations for a allowable purpose.
That includes for verifying the identity. In entire cases, where the biometric information is provided to different agencies or nations, the DIBP told that it would take necessary measures for protecting the privacy of the applicants.
