UK weighs limits on smart glasses over secret filming of women

The UK government is looking at restricting smart glasses after concerns that they are being used to secretly film women. A minister told the House of Commons that options include limiting where the glasses can be used and limiting sales to certain users.

What was said

Safeguarding minister Satvir Kaur said the benefits of smart glasses must be weighed against the harms. These glasses can have built-in cameras, microphones and displays. She said people who film with them already risk breaking the law in some places, such as a court where cameras are banned. NHS England and the Department for Education are also looking at wearable technology in settings like healthcare and education.

Anna Sabine, a Liberal Democrat MP who held the debate, said women are finding videos of themselves online after nights out, filmed without their knowledge or consent. She said ads have pitched the glasses as a way to film discreetly. She does not want lawmakers to regulate only once it is too late.

Kaur also said the glasses can be hugely beneficial. She pointed to people who are visually impaired, saying the glasses have helped them navigate the world.

What is not known yet

No details have been given on which users could be barred from buying the glasses, which settings would be covered, or when any rule might arrive. Kaur described the government as looking into options. That is not a decision.