NSW Public WiFi Regulations for Cafes?

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Tim W

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28 April 2014
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Who says you have to?

You may however choose to do so as a matter of prudent business practice.

For example, you may simply want to track and identify users who over-use your service
(such as those who download stuff en masse using your data volume),
or who do so for unlawful purposes - anything from downloading infringing copies of TV shows,
to publishing hate blogs, all the way to distributing criminal content.

You might also want to analyse and compare internet a customer's internet use
to their in-store spend.
For example, you might choose to use software to offer a different level of service
to the users who buy one latte, but still sit on your wi-fi all day,
compared to the guys who spend (say) $20 or$50 or even $100 a day,
sometimes over two full meals and numerous coffees.
 
24 August 2015
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Thanks for your reply Tim,
I know in some countries there is regulatory legislation that means you have to track the users, but this does not seem to be the case in Australia.
 

Rod

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27 May 2014
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I can't remember the rules around wi-fi connections wrt the new data retention laws brought in a month or 3 ago by the Liberals and supported by Labor. This law says you need to retain data for 2 years. Just check to see if your service qualifies (offering Internet access to consumers). I suspect you don't have to worry but worth a call for peace of mind.

Contact the Office of the CAC (Communications Access Co-ordinator) by phone on (02) 6141 2884. They are part of the Federal Attorney-Generals Dept and are supposed to know the answer. Good luck!

FYI many ISPs are not sure what is and isn't covered and neither is the government. Real mess :( No privacy online from the Government. If they want your 'metadata' they'll just tell the ISP to hand it over.