Privacy regulator: filming people with smart glasses is almost never allowed

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) has warned that filming people with smart glasses, such as the Ray-Ban Meta, is generally prohibited under privacy laws. The regulator emphasizes that individuals have a right to privacy in public, and capturing recognizable footage of strangers without their consent violates the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Although some devices feature indicator lights to signal recording, the AP argues these are often insufficient to properly inform bystanders.

The regulator recommends that venues such as hospitals, courthouses, and religious buildings implement bans on smart glasses to protect people in sensitive environments. While personal or domestic use may allow for exceptions, these do not apply if footage is shared publicly or on social media platforms. The AP is currently reviewing whether stricter measures are necessary to curb the privacy risks posed by wearables that collect data on unwitting third parties, as it remains unclear how these devices utilize artificial intelligence to process captured information.