In the news dated September 15, 2026 on Epoch Times:
You’re swimming in the pool, and someone next to you is wearing what appears to be just an ordinary pair of sunglasses. You may not even realize that there is a hidden camera in the frame of those glasses. This is becoming a concern for various Australian government authorities.
With the gradual prevalence of AI smart glasses, cities like Brisbane, Melbourne’s Yarra, and Canterbury-Bankstown in southwest Sydney have recently implemented bans or restrictions on such devices.
The rapid escalation of this controversy is also related to the entry of cheap camera glasses into the mass market. According to reports from The Guardian, a pair of camera glasses under the Anko brand, a sub-brand of Australian retailer Kmart, was priced at only 89 Australian dollars and temporarily sold out, triggering petitions to ban its sale.
On September 15, the Canterbury-Bankstown City Council passed a resolution overwhelmingly to ban the use of AI smart glasses in public pools within its jurisdiction. Mayor Bilal El-Hayek even referred to them as “pervert glasses”.
“These glasses can not only capture, record, and share videos but can also scan your face, potentially access and acquire personal information related to individuals,” El-Hayek said, highlighting that this smart technology is raising concerns among residents about safety and privacy.
While smart glasses resemble regular eyewear in appearance, they are equipped with high-resolution cameras. Wearers can capture, record, or even share videos without the subjects being aware.
The Australian public is particularly concerned about places involving children and personal privacy, such as changing rooms, swimming pools, and school surroundings. There have been reports of women being recorded without consent, and the related videos being shared on social media.
Last month, Brisbane took the lead in publicly announcing a ban on covert filming in its 21 public swimming pools, citing increasing concerns over child safety.