Key facts
- Australia is considering banning smart glasses in government buildings.
- The potential ban is due to privacy and security concerns.
- Minister for Public Service Katy Gallagher has requested advice on prohibiting recording smart glasses.
- The government plans to consult on AI guidelines for the workplace with major employers.
- Local councils have already banned smart glasses from public pools and playgrounds.
Australia is contemplating a ban on the use of smart glasses equipped with cameras within government workplaces, a move that could establish a global precedent for regulating such technology. The decision stems from growing privacy and security concerns associated with devices capable of covertly recording individuals without consent.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted Australia's commitment to digital safety, stating the nation aims to set world standards as technology evolves. This consideration follows similar actions in other regions, such as courts in England and Wales and New York state in the US banning the technology, while the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency reportedly classified them as body-worn cameras and barred them from the “federal workspace”.
Minister for Public Service Katy Gallagher has initiated a review by the public service commission to assess the necessity of prohibiting recording-enabled smart glasses in government settings. She noted the legitimate privacy and security issues these devices present and the need for clear guidance for public servants.
In parallel, the government plans to convene a roundtable with leading employers, including technology giant Microsoft, Commonwealth Bank, Telstra, and energy firm AGL, to discuss and formulate guidelines for the implementation of AI in the workplace. Companies selling smart glasses are also encountering legal scrutiny, with a German advocacy group filing a criminal complaint against Meta and other sellers over privacy law violations.
Local councils around Australia have also begun implementing targeted bans on smart glasses in public spaces. Canterbury-Bankstown council barred the wearable tech from public pools, following similar decisions by Brisbane and Yarra city councils regarding pools and playgrounds.