The UK government is weighing limits on where smart glasses can be used and who can buy them after concerns about covert filming of women. Safeguarding minister Satvir Kaur said options are already being examined.
The UK government is considering restrictions on smart glasses amid concerns the technology is being used to surreptitiously film women, safeguarding minister Satvir Kaur said in the House of Commons.
Kaur said the government is already looking into options to restrict smart glasses in certain settings and restricting the sale to certain users. She said people who used smart glasses for filming already risked breaking the law in certain settings, such as in a court where cameras are prohibited.
"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 added that healthcare and education have existing safeguarding or professional policies relevant to smart glasses and any kind of digital recording. NHS England and the Department for Education are currently looking into wearable technology in certain settings.
Liberal Democrat MP Anna Sabine, a culture spokesperson for the party who held Wednesday’s debate, 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.
"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 one of the selling points of the glasses in advertisements was that they could be used "to film discreetly". Sabine said she did not want parliamentarians to "only regulate once it is too late".
Kaur said smart glasses, which can come with built-in cameras, microphones and displays, could "be hugely beneficial" to some people. "For example, for those that are visually impaired, smart glasses have been a gamechanger, helping them navigate the world around them."
A Meta spokesperson said: "People use our glasses because they’re helpful and let them stay in the moment, from listening to music to live translation or hands-free calls. They were built to be noticed, which is why every pair with a camera has a bright light on the front that blinks when you take a photo or video. It cannot be turned off and the camera is disabled if someone covers or tampers with it."
The debate follows reports of covert filming and comes as other businesses, including British pub chain Wetherspoons, have banned smart glasses. The government is weighing privacy and safety concerns against accessibility benefits for people with visual impairments.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
Three House Republican committee chairs have requested a closed-door briefing with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on November 18, 2026, over reported contacts with an executive suspected of links to Chinese intelligence.
The European Commission says TikTok's recommendation system can harm mental health and body image, and wants changes to the For You feed design.
