Australie: les drones sous surveillance

Dans la continuité du billet sur l'action de la CNIL, il est à noter que dans une lettre transmise au procureur général, le commissaire à la vie privée d'Australie, Timithy Pilgrim, s'interroge sur l'encadrement entourant l'utilisation des drones et invite à une réflexion sur cette question et ce, dans les termes suivants: 

Dear Attorney-General

There is growing interest in the community and media about the use and implications of aerial drone technology, particularly drones with video recording and streaming capabilities.

While drone technology has clear benefits, such technology presents a number of risks through its potential to be privacy invasive. The risk is heightened because drone equipment is increasingly commercially available, and can be easily purchased and used by individuals in their private capacity.

Where an agency or private sector organisation covered by the Privacy Act 1998 (Cth) (Privacy Act) intends to use drone technology, it must do so in accordance with the Privacy Act. This would include giving notice to affected individuals about the collection of their personal information, only using and disclosing the personal information as permitted by the Privacy Act, and keeping it secure.

The Privacy Act does not however cover the actions of individuals in their private capacity, including any use of drones by individuals.

I understand that there are laws governing unlawful surveillance, stalking and harassment that may apply to the use of drones by individuals. It is unclear however whether those laws provide sufficient regulatory protection, including appropriate restrictions on unreasonable uses.

In particular, individuals who may be subject to surveillance via drone technology may not currently be able to seek appropriate or consistent redress across the Commonwealth. The statutory cause of action for privacy that is currently being considered by Government could be useful in this type of situation.

I suggest that it may be timely to review the current regulatory framework to ascertain whether it is sufficient to deal with any misuse of drone technology. It may also be appropriate to raise this issue with the Standing Council on Law and Justice.

Please contact me if I can be of any assistance.

Yours sincerely

Timothy Pilgrim

À suivre donc. 

• OFFICE OF THE AUSTRALIAN INFORMATIN COMMISSIONER, "Correspondence to the Attorney-General: Regulation of drone technology - September 2012", Latest News, November 5, 2012.