Would you want to know if someone was recording you right now?

The use of smart glasses technology is on the rise and, while regulators have grappled with general issues of voice and audio recording before, smart glasses open up a whole new dimension as people might not know when they are being recorded by them.

Interesting privacy issues arise from the use of smart glasses, including whether users or others with access to data could be classified as data controllers, and how to ensure the processing of personal data using such technology is lawful, fair and transparent.

If smart glasses are used in future for facial recognition, voice recognition or other AI-integrated functions, this could trigger additional legal obligations and give rise to further potential risks.

Smart glasses developers will also need to consider how the principle of privacy by design and default can be reflected in such technology, including how to ensure data minimisation (for example, by limiting the use of cameras and other recording devices) and appropriate security of processing of personal data.

Innovative mitigations are already developing to protect users, such as the potential use of edge computing so that data is processed and stored locally, enabling the user to retain greater control. However, other data subjects may also be affected. As use of smart glasses increases, we expect to see increasing debate as to how this new technology should be regulated and managed, including in an AI context…