Google Street View in Australia: Privacy Implications and Regulatory Solutions

This article examines the introduction of Google Street View in Australia, and the subsequent 'payload data' collection scandal. Through this case study we consider the privacy implications of Street View and the various regulatory discourses that have emerged around this Google service in Australia. We argue that, while privacy by design (PBD) is one of the most commonly advocated methods of privacy protection in Australia, its implementation carries a number of significant limitations. The March 2014 introduction of the Australian Privacy Principles holds some promise, but it still views privacy as a compliance issue rather than a rights issue. We suggest that the introduction of a broad statutory right to privacy could ensure fuller privacy protections for end-users of Street View and other location-based services.