Perth Airport's wi-fi policy is "an absolute disgrace" and an invasion of privacy, according to a senior West Australian MP who says he's appalled that users' data can be used and distributed in any way the airport sees fit.

A digital rights expert is also alarmed at the policy, warning it illustrates the dangers of public internet networks.

Liberal Member for Cottesloe David Honey shared a screenshot of the airport's terms and conditions on his Facebook page, where he branded it "an absolute disgrace".

They state that by using the free wi-fi, users give the airport the "license to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, broadcast, sub license and/or otherwise exploit part or all of Your Content in any medium … by any means or for any purpose, and to authorise others to do so".

The policy also states it may "do anything to Your Content which may infringe your moral rights in Your Content, including editing, altering or reproducing Your Content".

'Profoundly offensive'

Mr Honey told ABC Radio Perth said he was shocked and disturbed by the conditions.

"The way I read it was if I send a photo of myself or one of my kids or one of my grandkids, that they own the content of it and they could use it for any purpose, they could use it for advertising or perpetuity forever," he said.

"It befuddles me why a service provider would have that on their terms and conditions.

"This idea that they could take your content and use it for any purpose that they choose, commercial or otherwise, I think is profoundly offensive. I think most people would be absolutely stunned."

But a Perth Airport spokesperson said in a statement it did not use wi-fi related customer content, and did not intend to.

The airport said it will undertake a review of its wi-fi terms and conditions “to make this clearer for its users".

"When Perth Airport provides wi-fi, it is subject to an acceptable use policy set by our internet service provider," the spokesperson said,

"This requires Perth Airport to ensure that customer content uploaded is not defamatory, offensive or in breach of third-party IP rights.

"This term is simply a standard term used across a number of our online services such as our social pages where members of the public do choose to upload or share images with us or enter competitions."

Laws 'not fit for purpose'

Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O'Shea said while the terms were alarming, they were not unusual for public wi-fi networks.

"What it highlights is a real deficiency in how personal information is regulated in the digital age, and that the privacy laws we have in Australia are not fit for purpose," she told ABC Radio Perth.

She said it put consumers in a "really difficult position" and demonstrated the need for law reform.

Proposed changes to federal privacy laws, including a 'fair and reasonable test' to determine the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, were being considered, she said.

Ms O'Shea said it wasn't clear in the policy that the airport did not intend to use customers' data.

"That's my concern, that without stronger laws, companies like this are not incentivised to improve the standard form agreements, and so they end up saying one thing [and] doing another, " she said.

"That's not really good enough for consumers."

Fake wi-fi network stole data

Earlier this year, a Perth man appeared in court accused of starting up "evil twin" wi-fi networks to steal the personal details of users at multiple locations, including airports across Australia.

The Australian Federal Police alleged Michael Clapsis used a portable wireless access device to create free wi-fi networks.

When people tried to connect their devices to the networks, they were allegedly taken to a fake website which required them to log in using their email or social media accounts, and police said their details were saved by Mr Clapsis.

Ms O'Shea said she doesn't use public internet networks, and urged people to think twice about doing so.

She also raised concerns around children using public wi-fi networks without having the capacity to express consent to the terms and conditions.

"I think people should be very cautious about using these not just from a privacy perspective, but also a cyber security perspective," she said.

"You don't want people taking your information without your consent."