EU Privacy Regulator Demands Clear Recording Warnings for Smart Glasses
- European Union privacy regulators issued non-binding guidance stating that smart glasses must provide clear and reliable warnings when recording, following a public outcry over secretly filmed footage of...
- The European Data Protection Board stressed that recording indicators must be obvious, hard to ignore, and kept up to date.
- The European Data Protection Board noted that children are especially vulnerable to covert data processing.
European Union privacy regulators issued non-binding guidance stating that smart glasses must provide clear and reliable warnings when recording, following a public outcry over secretly filmed footage of women and girls.
Regulatory Warnings and Privacy Demands
The European Data Protection Board stressed that recording indicators must be obvious, hard to ignore, and kept up to date. EDPB chair Anu Talus stated in published remarks that visible cues could include bright LED lights, audio signals, voice activation cues, privacy-friendly smartphone notifications, or unique frame designs.
The European Data Protection Board noted that children are especially vulnerable to covert data processing.
Retail Backlash and Public Protests
The regulatory action coincides with a mounting grassroots and commercial backlash across Europe, including a Stop Smart Glasses campaign in Ireland and the UK that surpassed 10,000 petition signatures, triggering a formal government response. TechRadar reported that Dutch eyewear giant Hans Anders halted sales of Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses across more than 400 stores in Belgium and the Netherlands. Hans Anders cited ongoing public debate and unresolved questions regarding the conditions under which the technology is used.
TechRadar also reported that Meta’s smart glasses feature a blinking LED light on the front that cannot be turned off during recording, and the camera disables if someone tampers with the indicator. However, consumer groups point out that users can physically cover the light. In the Netherlands, Meta’s smart glasses have reportedly been used to capture unauthorized footage of hundreds of women, which was subsequently shared on messaging apps like Telegram, according to coverage cited by TechRadar. Dutch consumer advocacy group Consumentenbond threatened legal action against Meta if the company fails to comply with local laws.
Government Restrictions and Venue Bans
Public venues and national governments are beginning to implement independent restrictions. In the UK and Ireland, commercial establishments have begun taking direct action. TechRadar reported that pub chain Wetherspoons banned smart glasses across its locations, while the UK Cinema Association weighed potential theater restrictions to prevent piracy and unauthorized social media livestreaming.