EU Commission set to ramp up enforcement of Smart Glasses

European lawmakers and regulators are increasing scrutiny of smart glasses due to significant physical surveillance and data protection risks. Concerns about the rapidly evolving technology include that it violates core principles, such as consent, because bystanders cannot easily object to being recorded. These concerns were intensified following reports about Meta subcontractors in Kenya reviewing extremely personal footage, including intimate moments and banking details, captured by the glasses to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. 

In response, European Parliament lawmakers have urged the European Commission to take concrete action to ensure that the technology aligns with existing regulations and does not unlawfully target citizens. 

European Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath noted that enforcement rests with national authorities and courts, while the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has commissioned a report into the social acceptability of smart glasses. The findings, expected this summer, will determine subsequent regulatory actions.

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