Australia’s eSafety commissioner has issued guidance to smartglasses manufacturers addressing concerns about privacy and consent issues related to the technology. The advice, released on Monday, acknowledges that devices such as Meta’s Ray-Ban smartglasses provide accessibility benefits to people with vision impairments, but emphasizes that these benefits should not come at the expense of privacy and safety considerations.
The regulator noted that reports have emerged of individuals being filmed without consent, with recordings subsequently shared on social media. The eSafety commissioner stated that relying on consumers to use the devices responsibly is insufficient and that harmful practices are already occurring rather than remaining theoretical. The guidance specifically identifies “pickup artist” content filmed on the glasses as contributing to misogynistic commentary and potentially normalizing non-consensual recording of people in public spaces.
The eSafety commissioner has recommended that manufacturers implement design safeguards including mandatory visual indicators when recording audio or video that cannot be disabled, automatic face blurring for individuals who have not provided informed consent, and prevention of facial identification features. The regulator emphasized that developers have the opportunity to embed safety practices while the technology is still developing.
Currently, the eSafety commissioner lacks enforcement powers to require these changes. However, the federal government is under pressure to intervene as smartglasses become more affordable and widespread. The attorney general is preparing to release an exposure draft for privacy reforms addressing smartglasses, though this is not expected to include an outright ban. Additionally, the privacy commissioner has been tasked with assessing the technology’s privacy implications.
Political momentum is building for regulatory action, with the Greens planning to introduce a private member’s bill proposing a 12-month temporary ban pending updated privacy legislation. Some institutions including schools and Brisbane city council have begun implementing device restrictions, though experts argue that meaningful solutions require industry-level obligations rather than individual institutional bans.
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