Enhancing Consumer Awareness of Privacy and the Internet of Things

This report presents empirical data about the purchasing patterns, common uses and knowledge Australian consumers have of consumer Internet of Things (CIoTs) and their privacy impacts. This data is supplemented by interviews concerning the security, privacy and regulatory risks of CIoTs with 32 key stakeholders from the fields of information security, regulation and academic research. These perspectives provide new understandings of the role of CIoTs in contemporary Australian life and...
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This report presents empirical data about the purchasing patterns, common uses and knowledge Australian consumers have of consumer Internet of Things (CIoTs) and their privacy impacts. This data is supplemented by interviews concerning the security, privacy and regulatory risks of CIoTs with 32 key stakeholders from the fields of information security, regulation and academic research. These perspectives provide new understandings of the role of CIoTs in contemporary Australian life and demonstrate the policy and regulatory challenges that emerge from their rapidly expanding use. The role of privacy icons was also considered as a mechanism for raising consumer awareness of privacy issues associated with CIoTs, but the survey and interview findings indicate that substantial law reform and greater industry engagement are required before icons can have meaningful impact in addressing the privacy issues relating to CIoTs.