Key facts
- European privacy regulators want smart glasses to use flashing lights and audio alerts to signal recording.
- The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) issued new recommendations for smart glasses on Tuesday.
- The recommendations are not legally binding but will guide regulators on GDPR compliance.
- Manufacturers may be held responsible for privacy compliance, not just users.
- The household exemption for GDPR will be narrowly interpreted for smart glasses.
- Meta includes an LED light on its smart glasses as a privacy safeguard.
Europe's privacy regulators are pushing for smart glasses to be more conspicuous when recording, suggesting features like flashing lights and audio alerts to inform the public. The European Data Protection Board (EDPB), comprising national privacy regulators, released a statement on Tuesday outlining these stringent recommendations.
The move comes as concerns grow over wearable technology filming individuals without their knowledge or consent, with videos increasingly appearing online. While the EDPB's statement is not legally binding, it will serve as a guide for European privacy regulators assessing compliance with rules such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Regulators propose a combination of transparency measures, including audible voice commands to activate recording, notifications sent to nearby smartphones, and other design cues. They also emphasized that manufacturers and app providers, in addition to users, could be held responsible for privacy compliance. The GDPR's household exemption is to be narrowly interpreted for smart glasses, particularly when content is shared publicly.