Australian surveillance system used in Bahrain By Zoe Holman A still from a video shows how iOmniscient's facial recognition software works.
A leading Australian intelligence company is selling state-of-the-art surveillance technology to Bahrain amid concerns it could be used to target pro-democracy campaigners, according to an investigation by international human rights advocates. 
A report by Bahrain Watch found that iOmniscient, which has its headquarters in Sydney, has since   April partnered with US company Pelco and Bahrain's LSS Technologies to provide the Bahrain Interior Ministry with enhanced surveillance equipment.
This includes 2000 CCTV cameras and facial recognition software.
"The rollout of this technology means at least one camera for every 650 Bahrainis, allowing nationwide, real-time tracking of the population," said Bahrain Watch's Travis Brimhall, noting prior use of police video to indict protesters in the Gulf kingdom.
"Given the government's well- established record of targeting opposition and human rights defenders, we fear this will provide an advanced dissident-capture system where anyone found to be speaking out can be recognised and intercepted on a scale previously unseen."
Bahrain was the site of mass demonstrations in 2011 demanding reform by the country's Shiite majority population. The protests were violently put down by security forces with assistance from neighbouring states, but dissent and repression have persisted.
On Tuesday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern at Bahraini authorities' intensification of the crackdown on dissent, including attacks on freedoms of expression and association.
A global leader in video analytics, iOmniscient confirmed it has projects with Bahrain's Interior Ministry to the value of "several million dollars".
The company's chief executive, Rustom Kanga said the company's facial recognition software provides unique capacities to identify individuals in crowds.
He said concerns about the misuse of iOmniscient's technology are unwarranted.
"If a person of interest shows up, he can be apprehended by the authorities while the general public is totally protected and their privacy is never compromised," he said.
"The system essentially helps the human operator to be more effective more quickly, especially in emergencies. Innocent citizens have nothing to worry about."
However, victims of Bahrain's security forces say the government cannot be trusted with its surveillance capabilities.
"They will use it against us, against civilians, to their fullest advantage," said Abbas Abdulaziz, a Sydney-based campaigner who fled Bahrain in 2011 after his home was raided by Bahraini and Saudi security and his family imprisoned.
"When it comes to human rights activists in Bahrain, all of them are now behind bars, but not only them - also kids, women, old people, engineers anddoctors."
Bahrain Watch says that the investigation highlights broader issues around an expanding Western trade in surveillance technology to unaccountable governments.