France investigates secret filming of women using smart glasses
A trend that began in the US is spreading in France, with men covertly filming women in public using smart glasses and posting the footage online for profit.
French authorities are looking into a trend, which first emerged in the United States, of women being secretly filmed in public by men wearing smart glasses, according to France 24.
The men involved are reported to earn money by posting the videos online without the consent of the women who appear in them. France 24 correspondent Ellen Gainsford has been covering the story, which the broadcaster says is becoming increasingly prevalent in France.
Concerns over consent and privacy
Smart glasses equipped with hidden cameras allow footage to be recorded without the knowledge of people nearby, raising concerns among privacy advocates about consent and the monetization of non-consensual footage on video platforms. The report did not specify which platforms are involved or the scale of the monetization described.
France 24's report did not detail the specific French authorities' current investigation or any charges that may result from it, nor did it specify existing French laws that may apply to covert filming and non-consensual publication of footage.
The report also did not include comment from smart glasses manufacturers or from the online platforms where such videos have reportedly been posted.
Sources
- ‘I felt like I'd been tricked’: France probes secret filming of women with smart glasses — France 24 — English
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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