IT Brief Australia - Technology news for CIOs & IT decision-makers
Australia

Australian Stories

Facial recognition stories

Snap locks 415,000 teen accounts, urges app store age checks
Surveillance

Snap locks 415,000 teen accounts, urges app store age checks

Snap locks 415,000 suspected under-16 Snapchat accounts in Australia and renews calls for stricter app store-level age checks.

By Melania Watson • 4 min read • Mon, 2nd Feb 2026
Google Photos adds AI editing tools for Australians
Surveillance

Google Photos adds AI editing tools for Australians

Google Photos is rolling out AI-powered editing in Australia, letting Android users transform images simply by typing or speaking prompts.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Wed, 28th Jan 2026
PEXA unveils AML tool PEXA Clear for property sector
Surveillance

PEXA unveils AML tool PEXA Clear for property sector

PEXA launches PEXA Clear AML tool for Australian property sector, ahead of new AUSTRAC Tranche 2 rules starting 1 July 2026.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Tue, 20th Jan 2026

Global Stories

Facial recognition stories

Mastercard enlists Schmeichel to back Click to Pay
Surveillance

Mastercard enlists Schmeichel to back Click to Pay

Mastercard taps Peter Schmeichel to front a UK push for tokenised Click to Pay checkouts, aiming to end manual card entry by 2030.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Wed, 11th Feb 2026
Dark web 'fraud superstore' struggles with AI checks
Surveillance

Dark web 'fraud superstore' struggles with AI checks

Dark web 'fraud superstores' expand slick services but LexisNexis research finds AI liveness and deepfake checks still foil many scams.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Tue, 10th Feb 2026
Safer Internet Day spotlights AI, trust & child safety
Data Protection

Safer Internet Day spotlights AI, trust & child safety

Safer Internet Day highlights how AI is transforming online trust, child protection and digital commerce, amid calls for stricter safeguards.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 5 min read • Tue, 10th Feb 2026
3DiVi urges banks to track real-world facial security
Surveillance

3DiVi urges banks to track real-world facial security

3DiVi urges banks to track real-world facial ID performance, warning that hope and lab tests are no substitute for live risk metrics.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Tue, 3rd Feb 2026
AI deepfakes force firms to rethink trust & security
Firewalls

AI deepfakes force firms to rethink trust & security

AI deepfakes are eroding faith in biometrics and executive identities, forcing companies to rebuild trust in how they verify people and payments.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Thu, 29th Jan 2026
Digital billboards to power USD $54.6bn OOH boom
Smart Cities

Digital billboards to power USD $54.6bn OOH boom

Digital billboards are set to drive OOH ad spend to USD $54.6bn by 2025, as programmatic trading and data tools fuel rapid DOOH growth.

By Kaleah Salmon • 4 min read • Thu, 29th Jan 2026
3DiVi urges phased rollout to cut CCTV facial misfires
Data Protection

3DiVi urges phased rollout to cut CCTV facial misfires

3DiVi urges cities to phase in facial recognition for CCTV after most operators report surprise spikes in false matches once systems go live.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Thu, 15th Jan 2026
AI Media Station puts edge intelligence in the lounge
Data Protection

AI Media Station puts edge intelligence in the lounge

KTC and Consult Red unveil AI Media Station, a Qualcomm-powered proof-of-concept bringing private edge AI control to living room media hubs.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Thu, 15th Jan 2026
Ping Identity buys Keyless to boost biometric security
Data Protection

Ping Identity buys Keyless to boost biometric security

Ping Identity snaps up Keyless to add privacy-preserving biometrics and fight AI-driven deepfakes and account takeover attacks.

By Melania Watson • 3 min read • Wed, 14th Jan 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Facial recognition stories

Google launches age checks for young users in Singapore
Data Protection

Google launches age checks for young users in Singapore

Google has begun using AI-powered age checks in Singapore, tightening default safety settings for under-18s on Search, Play, Maps and YouTube.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Tue, 3rd Feb 2026
Blue Cloud deploys AI video system at Telangana clinic
Unified Communications

Blue Cloud deploys AI video system at Telangana clinic

Blue Cloud rolls out AI video analytics at a Telangana dialysis centre, integrating patient ID, workflow tracking and safety monitoring.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Fri, 30th Jan 2026
Alcatraz Rock X completes live airport facial ID tests
Data Protection

Alcatraz Rock X completes live airport facial ID tests

Alcatraz's Rock X facial authentication system has completed live trials at Honolulu airport, boosting its pitch for staff and secure-area access.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Fri, 16th Jan 2026
Suprema unveils dual BioStar platforms, new biometrics
Firewalls

Suprema unveils dual BioStar platforms, new biometrics

Suprema debuts twin BioStar access platforms and flagship AI facial terminal at Intersec 2026, targeting high-security, high-traffic sites.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Thu, 15th Jan 2026
Shoplifter alerts more than double in 2025 - Facewatch says
Data Protection

Shoplifter alerts more than double in 2025 - Facewatch says

Facewatch says UK retailers' facial recognition alerts more than doubled to over 500,000 in 2025 amid rising theft and abuse in stores.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Mon, 12th Jan 2026