The European Union’s data watchdog has recommended that smart glasses should clearly indicate when they are recording, emphasizing that bystanders have the right to know when they are being photographed or filmed. The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) issued this non-binding recommendation on Tuesday, citing increasing concerns about the use of such devices to secretly record individuals, particularly girls and women.
According to the EDPB, smart glasses, which can look like regular eyewear but also have capabilities to take photos and videos, make phone calls, and translate text when connected to the internet, pose significant privacy risks. EDPB chair Anu Talus stated that the glasses should incorporate clear signals when recording, such as bright LED lights, audio signals, voice activation cues, privacy-friendly smartphone notifications, or distinctive designs.
“These warnings need to be reliable, hard to ignore, and always up to date,” Talus said. “Even in public spaces, bystanders should clearly understand that someone is filming or photographing them.”
The EDPB highlighted that these devices pose greater risks in sensitive environments such as schools and hospitals, as well as in public areas like beaches, raising concerns about children being more vulnerable to covert or intrusive data processing.
This advisory follows campaigns in several European countries aimed at banning or restricting the use of smart glasses due to privacy issues. Last week, Norway’s government expressed concerns over privacy invasions and proposed a temporary ban on smart glasses in specific public areas, with Oslo already having banned camera-equipped glasses in schools.
In France, the e-Enfance association, which runs the national hotline for victims of online abuse, has raised alarms about videos recorded with camera-equipped glasses being shared online. Additionally, French prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation following sexual harassment complaints linked to a trend of using smart glasses to film women in public without their consent and posting these videos online.
In the UK and Ireland, a “Stop Smart Glasses” campaign has initiated a petition urging supporters to contact retailers to halt the sale of these devices, gathering over 10,000 signatures, which requires a response from the UK government.