New AI roadside cameras crossing the line of driver privacy: report

Cameras used to photograph drivers breaking phone and seatbelt rules are bending privacy rules, according to an audit into Queensland‘s transport.

An artificial intelligence (AI) image-recognition system used to detect possible mobile phone and seatbelt offences has come under scrutiny after suggestions it may be breaching driver privacy.

The Queensland Audit Office released a report on Wednesday on managing the ethical risks of AI, where it made multiple recommendations to the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR).

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The audit found the TMR was not effectively identifying and managing aspects of ethical risks associated with its Mobile Phone and Seatbelt Technology (MPST) system, and that it needed to do more to ensure it assesses and manages ethical risks in a “structured and consistent manner”.

Some ethical risks mentioned for MPST systems were:

Inaccurate image recognition by the AI systemPrivacy concerns of drivers and passengersInadequate photo handling and storage protocolsInadequate “human in the loop” to ensure fairness of decisions

More than 208 million assessments for potential mobile phone and seatbelt offences were conducted by AI across nine devices in 2024, according to the report.

About 137,000 potential offences were reviewed by a human, with 114,000 fines issued.

“TMR is not effectively identifying and managing aspects of ethical risks associated with its Mobile Phone and Seatbelt Technology image-recognition AI and the QChat generative AI system,” the audit states.

“TMR has considered some ethical risks for both systems, which were implemented before Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business issued its AI governance policy.

“This policy has been in place for 12 months. TMR needs to perform full ethical risk assessments to determine whether its governance arrangements and mitigation strategies for these systems address risks effectively.”

More than 208 million assessments for potential mobile phone and seatbelt offences were conducted by AI across nine devices in 2024. Credit: Road Safety CommissionHow does it work?

TMR has a contract with an external vendor that owns and manages the AI system and devices used to capture drivers breaking phone and seatbelt rules.

Each possible offence is reviewed by a human at the external vendor, and then by the Queensland Revenue Office, before the issuing of an infringement notice for alleged offences

“(TMR) has taken initial steps, but lacks full visibility over AI systems in use,” the audit states.

“It has not yet established comprehensive department-wide governance arrangements to effectively oversee the ethical risks of AI systems.

“Strengthening its governance frameworks and implementing assurance mechanisms will support consistent and responsible management across the department.”

TMR said it is developing an “AI Strategic Roadmap” between now and 2028 to identify and address gaps in ethics risks and strengthen governance arrangements.

“Implementing assurance mechanisms in the roadmap to manage ethical risks is necessary to ensure consistent and effective oversight of AI systems,” TMR said.

Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg told the Courier Mail that his department had accepted all recommendations from the report.

“The privacy of Queenslanders is something we take extremely seriously,” he told the publication.