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TechActive · 16h

EU privacy regulators demand lights and alerts on smart glasses

The European Data Protection Board tells smart glasses makers to add recording alerts, as unauthorized filming sparks a privacy backlash.

newest coverage 9h agosummary written 10h ago9 pieces895 likes & upvotes91 comments NewswiresMastodonBluesky

What to know

  • The EDPB's recommendations are not legally binding but will guide how national regulators assess GDPR compliance for smart glasses.
  • Proposed safeguards include flashing lights, audio alerts, voice-activated recording triggers, and notifications sent to nearby phones.
  • The guidance narrows the GDPR's household-use exemption, making it inapplicable once footage is shared publicly online.
  • The move comes as Meta, Samsung/Google, and Apple all push into the smart glasses market, each facing reassessment of how they sell devices in Europe.

“would not apply when someone shares photos or videos of others "to an indefinite number of persons on a public social media account."”

European Data Protection Board, EU privacy regulator body · Politico ↗ · Oct 12

European Data Protection Board EU body of national privacy regulatorsMeta Smart glasses manufacturerSamsung Smart glasses manufacturer (with Google)Google Smart glasses manufacturer (with Samsung)Apple Reported smart glasses developer

EU privacy regulators demand lights and alerts on smart glasses
politico.eu

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 2 pieces in one half hour at Yesterday, 10 AM; 9 pieces over 17 hours (6 articles · 3 posts) Yesterday, 7:13 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Yesterday, 7:43 AM — quietYesterday, 8:13 AM — quietYesterday, 8:43 AM — quietYesterday, 9:13 AM — quietYesterday, 9:43 AM — quietYesterday, 10:13 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Yesterday, 10:43 AM — quietYesterday, 11:13 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Yesterday, 11:43 AM — quietYesterday, 12:13 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Yesterday, 12:43 PM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Bluesky 2Yesterday, 1:13 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Yesterday, 1:43 PM — quietYesterday, 2:13 PM — quietYesterday, 2:43 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Yesterday, 3:13 PM — quietYesterday, 3:43 PM — quietYesterday, 4:13 PM — quietYesterday, 4:43 PM — quietYesterday, 5:13 PM — quietYesterday, 5:43 PM — quietYesterday, 6:13 PM — quietYesterday, 6:43 PM — quietYesterday, 7:13 PM — quietYesterday, 7:43 PM — quietYesterday, 8:13 PM — quietYesterday, 8:43 PM — quietYesterday, 9:13 PM — quietYesterday, 9:43 PM — quietYesterday, 10:13 PM — quietYesterday, 10:43 PM — quietYesterday, 11:13 PM — quietYesterday, 11:43 PM — quiet 123
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  1. 3

    Le Monde ties the rules to a wider privacy outcry

    Coverage framed the EDPB's call for 'clear warnings' during recording as a direct response to a public backlash over covert filming with smart glasses.

    “must give 'clear warnings' when they are recording…”
    — Le Monde
    1. 2 outlets EU watchdog says smart glasses must clearly show when recording

      first by Le Monde EN, 11h ago · also Al Jazeera

      1 more headline
    2. 1 outlet EU watchdog says smart glasses must give 'clear warnings'

      first by RTE News, 10h ago

  2. 2

    Observers note EU is moving fast relative to peers

    A social media post highlighted that the EU is not alone in having reservations about smart glasses but is acting unusually quickly with formal guidance.

    “The EU is not only one that has reservations on smartglasses, but it is acting surprisingly rapidly…”
    — @arihak@techhub.social
    • arihak@techhub.social

      The # EU is not only one that has reservations on # smartglasses , but it is acting surprisingly rapidly: ---The regulators said smart glasses manufacturers should implement a combination of transparency measures to make other people aware that they are being recorded. The measures may include lights or sounds when users are recording…

      arihak@techhub.socialMastodon12h ago8▲view on Mastodon ↗
  3. 1

    EDPB publishes study on smart glasses' social acceptability

    Alongside the recommendations, the European group of privacy regulators released a commissioned study examining public acceptance of smart glasses.

    “Privacy regulators want people wearing smart glasses in public to look and sound like a truck backing down a road.”
    — Politico, outlet reporting · source
  4. background

    EDPB narrows GDPR's household exemption for wearers — The board said the GDPR's household-use exemption should be "narrowly interpreted" for smart glasses and would not cover sharing photos or videos "to an indefinite number of persons on a public social media account."

  5. background

    EDPB issues smart glasses privacy recommendations — Following a meeting in Brussels, the European Data Protection Board called for smart glasses to use flashing lights, audio alerts, voice-activated recording and phone notifications so bystanders know they are being filmed.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets Lights, bells and liability: Europe’s privacy regulators crack down on smart glasses

    first by Mastodon, 13h ago · also Politico Europe, Politico