The Australian government is currently studying whether to ban the wearing of smart glasses with cameras in federal government workplaces, out of concern that such devices, which resemble ordinary glasses, could be used for spying, recording, or collecting sensitive information.
According to a report by Reuters on Thursday, Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher has requested the Australian Public Service Commission to provide recommendations. A final decision has not yet been made. If implemented, federal government workplaces would prohibit the purchase or wearing of smart glasses.
Some smart glasses are equipped with cameras and microphones, allowing users to take photos, record videos, and audio. Some even have artificial intelligence capabilities, enabling them to identify objects or answer questions. Within government offices, documents, computer screens, and meeting discussions could potentially be recorded without the knowledge of those present.
Australian Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind warned of these risks in August. She pointed out that individuals wearing such glasses could secretly capture photos and audio in public places, unbeknownst to those being recorded. If the glasses also have facial recognition features, issues such as obtaining consent from others in the camera frame and how to inform individuals once images and audio are collected become even more complex. The Attorney General has requested that smart glasses be prioritized for further research.
Oslo, Norway has already banned students from wearing these glasses in schools; courts in England and Wales have also prohibited wearing smart glasses such as Meta.
Although smart glasses have practical applications, such as assisting visually impaired individuals in understanding their surroundings, the Australian government’s current focus is on whether to ban the wearing of such glasses in federal government workplaces, rather than implementing a blanket prohibition on these products.