Surveillance and the state: body-worn cameras, privacy and democratic policing

Body-worn cameras are increasingly being used by police forces and other government agencies across Australia to record interactions with suspects, witnesses and other members of the public. The cameras are thought to be capable of deterring officer misconduct, improving civilian behaviour and capturing valuable evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Unfortunately, in Australia, little public or academic attention has been directed to the privacy implications of these devices. This is in contrast to the United States, where there is vigorous debate about the potential for body-worn cameras to intrude upon the privacy of vulnerable individuals and to contribute to the over-surveillance of minority communities. One promising response to privacy concerns in the United States has been to democratise the rules around body-worn cameras by involving the public in the formulation of police guidelines. This Comment suggests that Australia should similarly involve the public in body-worn camera policy formulation.