The federal government is considering a ban on camera-equipped smart glasses in Commonwealth workplaces, citing concerns about privacy and security risks.
The proposal is being mooted as part of a suite of technology issues on the Commonwealth’s agenda.
Smart glasses, which are fitted with cameras capable of capturing images and recording video, have become increasingly accessible across Australia.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has asked the Australian Public Service Commission for advice on the use of smart glasses, including whether the technology should be “prohibited” in Commonwealth workplaces and what exemptions might be appropriate.
…unlike other forms of technology, smart glasses may be used more discreetly, making it harder to know when you are being recorded
“Smart glasses can raise legitimate privacy and security concerns, particularly because of their ability to record and capture information, and we need clear and consistent guidance for public servants,” she said.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland last month asked the Privacy Commissioner for “priority consideration” of smart glasses, saying that “unlike other forms of technology, smart glasses may be used more discreetly, making it harder to know when you are being recorded”.
Several local governments in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane have already imposed bans or restrictions on the use of smart glasses at council-run facilities, including public swimming pools and playgrounds.
The wearables have also been the subject of bans in courts and tribunals in various jurisdictions in the United States, England, and Wales.