Photography,Privacy and the Public

Abstract

There has been a recent shift in perceptions of photography and privacy in Australia. The view that our privacy is under threat has created an atmosphere of paranoia and fueled demands for law reform in relation to photography in public space. As photographers and privacy advocates battle each other by opposing the right to privacy with the right to free expression, there seems little chance of finding a workable solution. This article will consider this issue more deeply by analyzing the links between photography, privacy and the public, and assessing the cultural and political implications of this new climate.