The Federal Government is investigating a ban on smart glasses across public service workplaces.
It comes after widespread privacy concerns over the technology, prompting some local councils to ban them at public facilities.
Liberal Senator Jonno Duniam suggested he was broadly in support to limit the use of smart glasses, which he called “creepy”.
Here’s what you need to know.
Background
Smart glasses look like ordinary eyewear but include a camera, microphone, and AI features.
They can shoot photos and video, take calls, and translate speech in real time.
Meta and Ray-Ban have collaborated on smart glasses since 2021.
The latest version includes an AI assistant.
In June, Meta released a pair of smart glasses designed by Kylie Jenner.
A current-gen pair of Ray-Bans will set you back around $700, while the Kylie Jenner version is closer to $650.
Kmart’s $89 version sold out days after its launch.
Concerns
Experts and advocacy groups raised privacy concerns over the popularity of Kmart’s smart glasses, with Digital Rights Watch calling them a “covert surveillance regime in a wearable disguise”.
In August, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland wrote to Australia’s Privacy Commissioner over “widespread community concerns about the potential impacts of ‘smart glasses’, particularly for women and children.”
Rowland said: “Unlike other forms of technology, smart glasses may be used more discreetly, making it harder to know when you are being recorded.”
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Potential ban
In a statement released on Friday, Senator Katy Gallagher said she has asked the Australian Public Service Commission for advice on a potential ban on smart glasses in Government workplaces.
There are more than 215,000 people working for the Australian Public Service (APS), across Government departments including finance, health, education, and defence.
Gallagher said the technology can “raise legitimate privacy and security concerns particularly because of their ability to record and capture information”.
“The APS should always set the standard as a model employer.”
“Technology is changing rapidly and as a major employer the Commonwealth needs to make sure our workplace policies keep pace,” Gallagher said in a statement on Friday.
Opposition
Speaking to the ABC on Friday morning, Liberal Senator and Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam said smart glasses “sound, frankly, creepy.”
He noted that “there may be professions that do require them for various purposes.”
“But if [the Government is] banning them from workplaces like Commonwealth agencies, then I don’t see why you wouldn’t expand that elsewhere,” Duniam said.
What’s next?
At this stage, the Government is only seeking advice on a potential ban.
No legislation has been created.
It comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese travels to the U.S. to speak with technology industry leaders.
Part of the trip will see Albanese visit the Apple headquarters in California, before presenting to the UN General Assembly about the Government’s digital safety measures.
