Drone use in Australia: What are the privacy and copyright issues?

The complex regulatory regime surrounding the use of drones in Australia can give rise to significant challenges, particularly for companies wishing to integrate drones into their day-to-day activities. Before using this new technology, both businesses and individuals must ensure they are familiar with specific drone regulations and other applicable laws such as privacy and copyright legislation.

Until now, drones, or remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs), have largely been used for recreational purposes. However, recent significant advances in technology have meant new opportunities are beginning to emerge for the use of drones in a commercial context.

In combination with other functionalities such as GPS and live streaming technology, the potential applications for drones now range from security and surveillance to photography and even delivery of goods.