The government is exploring limits on where smart glasses can be used and who can buy them after reports of women being filmed without consent.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
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.
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 restrict the sale of the technology 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 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 any kind of digital recording, and that NHS England and the Department for Education are currently looking into wearable technology in certain settings.
The issue was raised in a Westminster Hall debate titled "Smart glasses and violence against women and girls." Anna Sabine, a Liberal Democrat MP and culture spokesperson for the party, said women are reporting that they wake 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 selling point of the glasses in advertisements was that they could be used "to film discreetly" and that 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, including those who are visually impaired. "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 women and girls being filmed without consent and the footage being posted online. Some businesses, including British pub chain Wetherspoons, have banned smart glasses. Australia has banned their use in public spaces including pools, gyms and government buildings, according to reporting cited by Mezha. The government has not yet announced specific legislation or a timeline for any restrictions.
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.
TechSponsored
Hutton Aerographics provides RPAS-certified drone services for real estate, construction, and surveying in Kamloops, the BC Interior, and the Lower Mainland.
The UK government is weighing restrictions on smart glasses, including limits on where they can be used and who can buy them, after MPs raised concerns about covert filming of women and girls.
