The Sydney City Council has implemented a ban on the use of smart glasses in public areas. This unanimous decision aims to safeguard individual privacy and prevent unauthorized video recording. According to the new regulation, wearing smart glasses will be prohibited at Sydney’s swimming pools, libraries, gyms, childcare centers, and town halls.
Smart glasses equipped with cameras can capture photos and videos without the consent or knowledge of others, posing a particular privacy risk to women and children, the council concluded. Green Councillor Matthew Thompson stated that incidents of targeted harassment of women and covert video recording abroad have increased, prompting this precautionary measure.
“We have seen cases overseas where women are targeted and recorded without consent, as happened in the United States, and we do not want a similar situation to arise here,” he said. To raise public awareness, the council will update information boards and related guidelines in public places regarding the ban. However, exemptions will be made for individuals with vision impairments, deafness, or hearing difficulties if the use of smart glasses is essential.
Sydney’s move highlights a complex debate between technology promotion and the protection of personal privacy.
