Australia Moves to Curb Smart Glasses in Government Workplaces

Australia is weighing a prohibition on camera-equipped smart glasses in government workplaces, citing privacy and security risks, in what officials described as a potential first of its kind.

Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher said she had sought advice from the public service commission on whether recording-capable smart glasses should be barred from government offices. She noted that the devices raise legitimate privacy and security concerns because of their ability to capture and record information, and that public servants need clear and consistent guidance.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was important for Australia to put the right protections in place as technology evolves. He pointed to the country's earlier move to ban social media for teenagers, describing it as a marker of its approach to digital safety.

The government will also convene a roundtable with some of the country's largest employers, including Microsoft, Commonwealth Bank, Telstra and AGL, as part of consultations on guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace.

Smart glasses have drawn praise from some quarters, including among visually impaired users, but concerns have grown internationally that they can be used to record or photograph people without consent.

Other jurisdictions have already acted. Oslo banned the glasses in schools last month, and Norway's federal government is considering regulating their use. England and Wales have prohibited Meta smart glasses in courts.

Companies selling the devices are also facing legal scrutiny. A German advocacy group has filed a criminal complaint against Meta and others involved in selling the Meta smart glasses, citing privacy laws.