Paris opens criminal probe into smart glasses harassment
At least one criminal investigation was launched.
Smart eyewear by Mustard Glasses. Photo by REUTERS/Steve Marcus
- Paris prosecutors have opened at least one criminal investigation into suspected harassment involving smart glasses.
- The complaints involve people filming women in public without consent and posting the footage online.
- France’s CNIL has received fewer than 10 workplace complaints and more employer questions about banning smart glasses.
- Privacy concerns have prompted restrictions or proposed bans in Australia, Oslo, England and Wales, and Germany.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
Paris prosecutors have opened at least one criminal investigation into suspected sexual harassment following complaints that people used smart glasses to film women on the street without their consent as part of a growing social media trend.
According to Reuters, at least one probe has been launched, although Paris prosecutors have not identified the brand of smart glasses involved.
The social media trend in question involves men approaching women in public, recording them without their knowledge or consent, and then uploading the footage online. Some prank and pickup-style creators have also used smart glasses to record interactions with women, including on dates.
The Paris prosecutor’s office tasked its cybercrime unit with testing smart glasses two weeks ago to better understand how the technology could be used to facilitate crime.
No further details about the investigation were provided.
The French data protection authority CNIL told the publication that it had received fewer than 10 complaints about the use of smart glasses in workplaces. It also said that it was “increasingly” being contacted by employers asking whether they can ban smart glasses at work.
As smart glasses become increasingly popular, with Meta capturing about 80% of the global market, concerns are also emerging outside of Europe. Australia is considering “the first ban of its kind” on the use of smart glasses in government buildings due to privacy and security concerns.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was important that Australia put the "right protections in place as technology evolves".
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Oslo also banned smart glasses in schools last month, while courts in England and Wales have prohibited members of the public from using Meta smart glasses to record proceedings.
In turn, a German consumer advocacy group filed a criminal complaint against Meta and other companies that sell the devices in the country over similar privacy worries.
