Smart Glasses: Privacy Concerns Raised Over Secret Recording of Women

Concerns over secret recording and facial recognition are increasing across Europe as Meta and Ray-Ban smart glasses gain popularity, with Norway restricting their use in schools and campaigners calling for tighter rules.

Norway has banned smart glasses from schools amid concerns about privacy and secret recording. Authorities are also examining possible restrictions on facial recognition features linked to the devices.

The glasses look similar to ordinary eyewear but include cameras, video recording and artificial intelligence features. Users can take photos, record videos and interact with an AI assistant.

The debate has grown in the UK and other European countries after reports of women and girls allegedly being recorded without their consent.

Calls for Restrictions Increase

A petition called “Stop Smart Glasses” has received more than 9,100 signatures from people in the UK and Ireland. Organizers have called for stronger measures against surveillance and recording without consent.

Concerns also extend to facial recognition. European lawmaker Veronika Seferova-Ostrichova has asked the European Commission about the compatibility of smart glasses with European data protection rules.

The European Data Protection Board is also preparing a report on public acceptance of smart glasses. The report could support future guidance on the technology.

Meta Glasses

Meta developed its Ray-Ban smart glasses with eyewear company EssilorLuxottica. The devices have become increasingly popular as companies add more artificial intelligence features.

Google and Snap are also developing similar products.

Meta has said it has taken measures to prevent users from interfering with the recording indicator light. The company says the measures aim to stop third parties from offering services that disable the light.