EU privacy watchdog urges smart glasses to signal when recording

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) on Tuesday recommended that smart glasses clearly signal when they are recording, saying bystanders have a right to know when they are being photographed or filmed. The non-binding advisory cited serious privacy concerns from devices that resemble ordinary glasses but can capture photos and video, make calls, and translate text. EDPB chair Anu Talus said the warnings must be reliable, difficult to ignore, and kept up to date.

Talus suggested signals including bright LED lights, audio signals, voice activation cues, privacy-friendly smartphone notifications, or unique designs. She added that even in public spaces, bystanders should clearly understand that someone is filming or photographing them. The EDPB warned that risks are greater in sensitive spaces like schools and hospitals, as well as public spots like beaches, and raised particular concerns about children being more vulnerable to covert or intrusive processing of their personal data.

The advisory comes amid campaigns in several European countries to ban or restrict smart glasses over privacy concerns. Norway's government said last week it wants a temporary ban on the use of smart glasses in certain public places, and Oslo has already banned camera-equipped glasses in schools. In France, the e-Enfance association, which runs the national hotline for victims of online abuse, has sounded the alarm about videos recorded with camera-equipped glasses and shared online.

Last month, French prosecutors opened a criminal probe following sexual harassment complaints tied to a social media trend of using smart glasses to film women on the street without their consent and posting the videos online. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, a Stop Smart Glasses campaign has launched a petition and urged supporters to contact stores to stop sales. The petition reached more than 10,000 signatures, meaning the UK government must respond.