Gold Coast nightclubs’ fingerprinting ‘over the top’

The Australian Council for Civil Liberties has accused Gold Coast pubs and nightclubs of going too far by fingerprinting patrons.

Queensland police and licensed venues are trialling fingerprint and drivers’ licence scanners as part of a safety program that includes more security cameras and communication systems.

Australian Council for Civil Liberties (ACCL) president Terry O’Gorman says he is surprised the Queensland Government is going along with it.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/18/2338214.htm?section=justin

Mr O’Gorman says it is a major invasion of privacy and clubs and pubs should not be trusted with that sort of information.

“There are some people – particularly women – who have good reason to be concerned about where this information might end up,” he said.

“I mean unlike police who are subject to strict regimes of accountability people who work in pubs and clubs are not subject to any privacy regime at all.

“We say that this procedure is dangerous to women’s privacy because there is just nothing to stop someone who takes a fancy to a woman to simply put down her address and then go around and look that woman up.

“This privacy infringement has to stop.”

‘Reasonable measure’

But Ms Bligh says using the fingerprint technology is a reasonable measure.

“I can understand why people might raise their eyebrows, but entry to a club is not a right,” she said.

“These are private clubs and you are entitled to enter them if you obey all the requirements.

“These requirements I think are there to protect the safety of patrons and the safety of the general public.

“The Gold Coast is a very important tourism destination and I want its reputation to be one where you can have a good time, but have a good time safely.”

However, Brisbane nightclub licensee Sarosh Mehta says he will not adopt the practice, saying it is unsafe and an invasion of privacy.

“In particular I agree with Mr O’Gorman, that for the young ladies I would be very concerned as to the information that is collected, where it is kept, how it is used and again, it comes down to protecting one’s privacy – how far does one go,” he said.

He says fingerprinting patrons is over the top.

“It is a bit of invasion of privacy because from what I understand and what they are trying to do down the Coast is leave that responsibility with the information they collect up to the staff and management of licensed venues,” he said.

“Personally speaking that’s a bit dangerous given the high turnover of staff at venues and some instances in management.”

~ by rdgiyvom on August 19, 2008.