Government considers restricting sales of smart glasses over filming concerns

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 23:58 · Archive

The UK government is considering restricting smart glasses in certain settings and limiting sales to certain users, after concerns they are being used to film women without consent.

The UK government is considering restrictions on smart glasses and limits on who can buy them, following a parliamentary debate on Wednesday about their misuse. MPs warned that men are using the devices to secretly film women and girls without consent, then posting the footage online for profit.

Liberal Democrat MP Anna Sabine said women have reported discovering videos of themselves filmed without knowledge or consent on social media after nights out. She noted that while smart glasses have a small LED indicator when filming, 'ghost Meta' shops are reportedly removing the light entirely to hide recording from people in public spaces. Another Liberal Democrat MP, Marie Goldman, said current UK harassment law is a 'wild west' when it comes to privacy, as it requires behaviour to be repeated against the same individual multiple times to breach the threshold, meaning the same conduct across multiple victims is currently legal.

Safeguarding minister Satvir Kaur responded that the government is reviewing options to restrict smart glasses in certain settings and the sale of them to certain users, with work happening 'at pace'. Both NHS England and the Department for Education are examining wearable technology in certain settings, though she did not specify which. Kaur noted that people using smart glasses to film already risk breaking existing laws in certain settings such as courts where cameras are prohibited, and that healthcare and education have existing safeguarding policies relevant to digital recording.

The devices have earned the nickname 'pervert glasses' and some private businesses have already restricted them. Australia has implemented similar bans in public spaces including pools, gyms and government buildings. Kaur said the benefits of smart glasses must be weighed against the harms they cause, adding that the devices can prove helpful to people with impaired vision or hearing.

How it is being reported

• Smart glasses could be banned in swimming pools and changing rooms in misogyny crackdownMinisters are consulting on plans to restrict the use of smart glasses amid growing evidence they are being used to film women without their consent.Daily Mail · 5 Nov, 23:40
• Putting the 'ban' in Meta Ray-Ban: the UK mulls restrictions on smart glassesAfter Australia expanded its smart glasses restrictions earlier this year, it could soon be the UK's turn.TechRadar · 5 Nov, 12:27
• UK government considers smart glasses ban over secret filming concernsMinister hints at restriction on selling technology ‘to certain users’ amid worries over surreptitious filming of women Restrictions on smart glasses are being considered by the government, a minister has said, amid concerns that the technology is being used to surreptitiously film women. Speaking in the House of Commons, the safeguarding minister Satvir Kaur hinted at a ban on selling the technology “to certain users”. Continue reading...The Guardian · 4 Nov, 20:07
• Smart glasses ‘monetising misogyny through secret filming of women and girls’The government said it is considering banning smart glasses ‘in certain settings’ and restricting the sale of them to certain usersThe Independent · 4 Nov, 13:42

In this story: Satvir Kaur · Marie Goldman · Anna Sabine · UK government · NHS England · Department for Education · Australia

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log