Public Wi-Fi metadata in data-driven urban governance

Abstract

This article explores on how Data Retention Obligation (DRO) relates to public Wi-Fi (PWF) service provision in Australia, highlighting PWF metadata as a product of applying DRO to PWF networks. Following an introductory overview of DRO regulation in Australia and issues associated with privacy and getting access to metadata, focus is then shift to the particular case of PWF metadata, with three emerging themes: the organizational model of PWF provision with relation to DRO, privacy of PWF metadata compared to the privacy of communication data in general, and practical example of quantitative metadata analysis on a real-life dataset generated within public Wi-Fi network.