Australia weighs government ban on Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses

Australia is considering a “world-leading” ban on smart glasses across workplaces operated by the state, TechRadar reports. The proposal follows concerns that devices such as Ray-Ban Meta glasses could record people without their consent.

The possible ban would cover government offices, service centers, laboratories and local councils. Schools and hospitals run by the government would be able to set their own rules, while the current policy lets individual workplaces decide how to handle the glasses.

Katy Gallagher, Australia’s public service minister, said the public had been asked for feedback. She said smart glasses could create “legitimate privacy and security concerns” because they can record and capture information, and that public servants need clear, consistent guidance.

Criticism of Meta’s glasses has also focused on possible harassment and covert recording. A University of Sydney study found that around 60% of 350 public Instagram videos recorded with the glasses could potentially contain harassment of one or more people. The report also says Meta has been accused of collecting triple the data of rivals, ignoring users’ requests not to be tracked and using private data in its artificial intelligence models.

Courts in England, Wales and New York state, along with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, have banned smart glasses in some settings. Australian cities and councils have also restricted them in places including playgrounds, childcare centers, gyms and public swimming pools.