‘Hacking is assumed now’: experts raise the alarm about added risk of surveillance cameras in childcare centres

After abuse allegations at a Melbourne childcare centre, major providers (G8, Affinity, Goodstart) and governments are advancing CCTV rollouts while assessing risks and costs; experts caution that cameras are a limited, potentially harmful quick fix due to privacy, security (hacking, cloud storage), legal blind spots, and data governance issues. Some providers have defined retention and access policies, while others are still developing them; officials voice conditional support pending safeguards. The article argues for systemic solutions—adequate staffing, rigorous screening, transparency on workforce metrics, stronger regulation (e.g., national educator register), and meaningful penalties (including cutting childcare subsidies)—to improve child safety beyond surveillance.