UK considers restricting smart glasses over secret filming concerns

The UK government is considering restrictions on smart glasses amid concerns the technology is being used to secretly film women and girls, the safeguarding minister has said.

Government position

Satvir Kaur, the safeguarding minister, said in the House of Commons that the government is looking into options to restrict smart glasses in certain settings and to restrict sales to certain users. She said the benefits of smart glasses must be weighed against the harms they can cause.

Kaur said people who use smart glasses for filming already risk breaking the law in certain settings, such as in a court where cameras are prohibited. She added that healthcare and education have existing safeguarding or professional policies relevant to smart glasses and digital recording, and that NHS England and the Department for Education are examining wearable technology in certain settings.

Parliamentary debate

The issue was raised in a Westminster Hall debate titled “Smart glasses and violence against women and girls,” introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Anna Sabine. Sabine said women are reporting waking up after nights out to find videos of themselves have gone viral online, filmed without their knowledge or consent by men wearing smart glasses. She said the devices have the potential to erode safety and privacy in public spaces and raise important questions about consent.

Liberal Democrat MP Marie Goldman said creators on social media are receiving “millions” of views and profiting from the filming, and that UK law is a “wild west” when it comes to privacy and online abuse. She said the law currently requires a victim to be targeted multiple times to meet the harassment threshold, meaning the same behaviour replicated across dozens of women may not meet that threshold.

Industry and accessibility context

Meta said its glasses were built to be noticed, and that every pair with a camera has a bright light on the front that blinks when a photo or video is taken. The company said the light cannot be turned off and the camera is disabled if someone covers or tampers with it.

Kaur acknowledged that smart glasses can be hugely beneficial, particularly for people who are visually impaired, describing them as a gamechanger for helping people navigate the world around them.

Why it matters

The debate highlights a gap between existing harassment law and new recording technology. Ministers are reviewing options at pace, while police and charities warn that current legislation may not adequately protect women and girls from covert filming in public spaces.

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Sources

• cyclingweekly.com: New laws to curb dodgy and dangerous e-bike activity to be introduced in Britain | Cycling Weekly
• aol.com: UK government considers smart glasses ban over secret filming concerns - AOL
• mezha.net: UK considers restrictions on smart glasses amid concerns over covert filming
• independent.co.uk: Smart glasses could face UK restrictions over secret filming of women and girls | The Independent
• aol.co.uk: UK government considers smart glasses ban over secret filming concerns - AOL

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.