The UK Government is considering restrictions on smart glasses amid concerns that people are using the devices to film women without their knowledge, safeguarding minister Satvir Kaur told MPs in the House of Commons.
Kaur said officials were exploring restrictions on smart glasses in certain settings and limits on sales to “certain users”. She noted that recording with the devices may already break the law in places where cameras are prohibited, such as courts.
The minister also pointed to existing safeguarding and professional policies relevant to digital recording in healthcare and education. NHS England and the Department for Education are reviewing wearable technology in some settings, she said.
Anna Sabine, a Liberal Democrat MP who led Wednesday’s debate, said women had reported finding videos of themselves online after nights out, filmed without their knowledge or consent by men wearing smart glasses. She also raised concerns about privacy and consent, and said advertisements promoted the glasses’ ability to “film discreetly”.
Kaur said the devices, which may include cameras, microphones and displays, could also be beneficial. She cited their use by people with visual impairments to help them navigate the world.
Smart glasses have also been used for purposes other than recording. Last month, Jason O’Connell, a Reform UK member of the Senedd representing Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr, used a built-in teleprompter feature to read a speech in the debating chamber. He told BBC Politics Wales that he wanted to avoid looking down at his notes so often.
Sources: The Guardian Politics.