Issuing fines for mobile phone and seatbelt offences using artificial intelligence (AI) could be in breach of privacy laws, according to an investigation by the Queensland Audit Office (QAO).

The sunshine state’s revenue from traffic fines tripled to $464.3 million last financial year, but a QAO report has raised concerns that the use of AI to determine whether motorists should be fined based on images from detection cameras could be in breach of privacy laws.

It said infringements may have been (and continue to be) issued unfairly, pointing to concerns over inaccurate image recognition, privacy of drivers as well as passengers, and inadequate image handling and storage.

Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has some of the highest traffic penalties nationally – in

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