Exclusive: Voiceprint program used by millions of Australians to access data held by government agencies shown to have a serious security flaw
A voice identification system used by the Australian government for millions of people has a serious security flaw, a Guardian Australia investigation has found.
Using just four minutes of audio, a Guardian Australia journalist was able to generate a clone of their own voice and was then able to use this, combined with their customer reference number, to gain access to their own Centrelink self-service account.The voiceprint service, described as the “digital representation of the sound, rhythm, physical characteristics and patterns of your voice”, was used by 3.8 million Centrelink clients as of the end of February, and more than 7.
When Guardian Australia contacted Services Australia with details of the security vulnerability, it declined to say if the voiceprint technology would be changed or removed from Centrelink. “If we identify unusual circumstances in how customers use our authentication systems, we apply additional tests to confirm a caller’s identity.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Push for millions of Aussies to receive Centrelink cash boost within monthsCost of living is front and centre as the federal government prepares the upcoming budget, with a leading welfare organisation calling for people on the lowest incomes to be prioritised. 7NEWS
Read more »
‘Unbelievable’: ABC show ‘brainwashing’ students with pro-Voice campaignersThe ABC is “brainwashing students” with predominantly pro-Indigenous Voice campaigners on their children’s show Behind the News, says The Australian’s Media Writer Sophie Elsworth. “This clip that we’re talking about is really quite unbelievable,” she told Sky News host Andrew Bolt. “They gave Dutton a tiny little clip in there, they didn’t give him much oxygen at all, and then they’ve run all these pro-Voicers and then put Lidia Thorpe in there. “So, they’ve ticked all their boxes that they need to do at the ABC, but this is being shown to children in the classrooms. “If I was a child of that age group I’d be thinking, why wouldn’t you vote for the Voice, this is a wonderful thing. “This is not up to the public broadcaster that they should be brainwashing students.”
Read more »
NSW adoption case highlights potential ‘legal obstacles’ if Voice succeedsSky News host Peta Credlin says in a current New South Wales adoption case, the “apparent inability to act in consultation with an Indigenous body” is a “tragedy” for one family. “A judge has just declined to allow the adoption of two little children with some Aboriginal ancestry by foster parents who have cared for them since infancy, “ Ms Credlin said. “Because, as reported in The Australian newspaper today, under state law, an Aboriginal child can only be adopted by non-Aboriginal people if an adoption within the relevant Aboriginal community, or another Aboriginal community, isn't feasible. “Under the New South Wales Adoption Act, non-Aboriginal parents adopting Aboriginal children have to do so in consultation with a person nominated by their blood relatives, and recognised by the relevant community. “Under New South Wales law, the local Aboriginal organisation also has to be consulted ... as it happens, in this case, one Aboriginal organisation declared that it doesn't support any adoption, and another failed to respond. “It doesn't take much to see this sort of legal obstacle play out at national level if the Voice gets up. Imagine the delays to decision-making if anything that impacts on Aboriginal people ... needs the approval of the Voice or even consultation with the Voice in order to proceed?”
Read more »
1,100 scientists and students barred from UK amid China crackdownExclusive: Foreign Office rejected record number of academics in 2022 on national security grounds
Read more »
NSW government spends $400,000 on consultants before outsourcing Sydney Water assetExclusive: Reports have become the centre of a political storm ahead of the looming state election
Read more »
NSW Liberal candidate shared online post criticising Christians who send children to public schoolsExclusive: Another post calling homosexuality a sin was also shared by Blacktown contender Allan Green
Read more »