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 response

Satvir Kaur, the safeguarding minister, told 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.

"The benefits of smart glasses must be weighed against the harms they can cause. The government is already looking into options to restrict smart glasses in certain settings and restricting the sale to certain users," Kaur said.

She said people using smart glasses for filming already risk breaking the law in some settings, such as courts where cameras are prohibited. NHS England and the Department for Education are examining wearable technology in certain settings, she added.

Parliamentary debate

The issue was raised in a Westminster Hall debate on smart glasses and violence against women and girls. Liberal Democrat MP Anna Sabine, who introduced the debate, said women reported waking up after nights out to find videos of themselves online, filmed without their knowledge or consent.

"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," Sabine said.

She said the devices could erode safety and privacy in public spaces and raised questions about consent. Sabine also said she did not want parliamentarians to "only regulate once it is too late."

Benefits and industry response

Kaur acknowledged that smart glasses can be beneficial, particularly for people with visual impairments.

"For example, for those that are visually impaired, smart glasses have been a gamechanger, helping them navigate the world around them," she said.

A Meta spokesperson said the 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 spokesperson said the light cannot be turned off and the camera is disabled if someone covers or tampers with it.

Why it matters

The debate follows reports of covert filming and concerns that current harassment laws may not cover cases where different individuals are targeted rather than the same person repeatedly. The government has not announced a timeline for any restrictions.

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Sources

• 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.