Smart glasses could face tighter privacy rules in Europe as concerns grow over covert recording in public spaces.
Speaking to UC Today, Jakub Zientala, Founder of EU public affairs consultancy Ungovern, believes an outright ban is unlikely to be practical – but instead, regulators should work with manufacturers to build stronger protections directly into devices.
The debate has intensified following concerns raised by Hamburg’s Data Protection Authority around the use of smart glasses in public.
Zientala said the issue sits within the wider European privacy landscape, including GDPR. However, enforcement is complicated by the fact that data protection authorities operate nationally, while smart glasses are sold globally.
“People are very mobile,” Zientala said.
“You can always bring this product with you from another country.”
Why a Ban Would Be Difficult to Enforce
A blanket ban on smart glasses would be difficult to implement in practice. Consumers could purchase devices abroad, order them online, or bring them into Europe while travelling.
Zientala warned that prohibition would not necessarily resolve concerns around misuse. Instead, it could create an unregulated market for devices that are still readily available elsewhere.
Rather than focusing solely on banning products, he argued that regulators should consider how manufacturers can make covert recording harder. Potential measures could include more visible recording indicators, controls requiring users to hold a button while filming, or other features that make recording clear to those nearby.
