Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Coombs has warned that new protocols must be in place before crime and security agencies can access hundreds of thousands of photographs of NSW citizens to bolster anti-terrorism efforts.

Dr Coombs has also declared that striking the balance between citizens' rights and the desire of security agencies to access their personal information is of "critical importance".

ASIO headquarters in Canberra would be among the agencies able to access the photographs. Credit:Katherine Griffiths

The comments follow revelations that the NSW government has agreed to give the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the NSW Crime Commission virtually unfettered access to photographs of NSW citizens.

On Monday, Fairfax Media revealed it has authorised Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to release to the agencies photographs of people granted an extensive range of licences and permits without a warrant or court order, as was previously required.