Smart Glasses: Europe Grapples with Growing Privacy Concerns

Smart glasses equipped with discreet cameras that allow filming or photography often without being noticed are raising growing concerns across Europe, France 24 reports. As their sales surge, multiple voices are now calling for regulations or even bans on their use in certain public places.

According to the outlet, these devices have been used to film women and children without their consent, fueling debate over privacy protections. In the United Kingdom, some media outlets have dubbed them "spy glasses," a term reflecting the extent of the controversy surrounding their misuse.

In France, an advocacy group has similarly condemned the distribution of videos deemed humiliating, filmed using these connected accessories without the subjects' permission, France 24 reports.

Faced with these abuses, calls are mounting to restrict the use of these glasses in certain public spaces, even as the market for these connected devices continues to expand rapidly, the outlet notes.

France 24 highlights that this backlash comes as European authorities examine the privacy protection issues posed by new wearable technologies incorporating discreet recording functions.