New privacy legislation in Australia has lifted the ban on police and spy agencies getting access to biometric facial scans taken for passports, drivers licenses or entry to nightclubs, reports the Herald Sun.

Police departments will now be able to ask private companies to turn over any facial scans they possess. The idea is to help law enforcement identify suspects in crimes.

The language in the Privacy Act wouldn’t mandate that these companies turn over their information to law enforcement agencies. The federal Information Commissioner will create guidelines for how companies will submit their biometric data.

The legislation will go into effect in 15 months in order to allow time for parties to comply with the regulations.

Read more here.