The European Data Protection Board says wearable cameras and microphones must give people nearby clear, immediate and hard-to-ignore warnings when they are active.
The European Data Protection Board has urged makers of smart glasses to ensure that recording is unmistakable, as Europe’s top privacy officials respond to growing concern over covert filming by wearable devices. In guidance published this week, the regulator said the technology should give people around the wearer clear and immediate notice when cameras or microphones are active.
The board said smart glasses pose particular data-protection risks because they look like ordinary eyewear while combining cameras, microphones and internet connectivity. Anu Talus, the EDPB chair, said in a statement that the devices could record people without their knowledge and that the warnings should be “reliable, hard to ignore, and always up to date”. The board suggested measures including bright LED lights, audio signals, voice-activation cues, privacy-friendly smartphone alerts and distinctive designs.
The guidance comes amid public concern about secretly recorded footage of girls and women. The EDPB said the risks are heightened in sensitive settings such as schools and hospitals, but also in public places including beaches. Children, it added, are especially vulnerable to covert or intrusive processing of their personal data.
The regulator also reminded users that if smart glasses are used to share images or video publicly, or in professional or official settings, they remain subject to Europe’s strict data-protection regime. According to the board, manufacturers and users alike must consider the General Data Protection Regulation when collecting and publishing material. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, among the best-known products in the category, already include a blinking light when recording, but the EDPB’s message makes clear that the bar for transparency may rise further as the market expands.
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