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Smart glasses, often promoted as an innovative leap in wearable technology, are seeing renewed interest. However, concerns have been raised about their potential misuse, particularly regarding the privacy and dignity of women. Instances have emerged where these devices, equipped with built-in cameras, are being used to film women without their awareness or permission, leading to online sharing that can cause significant distress.
One such case involves Oonagh, who recounted being secretly recorded by a man wearing smart glasses while on Brighton beach. After declining his advances, she later discovered a video of their interaction posted on TikTok, amassing around a million views along with numerous sexually explicit and demeaning comments. Oonagh expressed her shock and violation: “I had no idea it was happening to me, I didn’t consent to that being posted, I didn’t consent to being secretly filmed.” The exposure left her anxious and fearful about public outings.
Similarly, Kate, another woman from London, experienced a comparable situation at her gym. A man wearing smart glasses asked for her number, which she refused, only to receive a TikTok video of their exchange the following day. The clip quickly attracted tens of thousands of views and hostile remarks targeting her appearance and behavior. Kate described the emotional toll this took on her: “I thought I was going to throw up. I’m in distress. People are mocking me and making fun of me online, without realising none of this had been done with my consent.” She also highlighted the damaging impact such incidents have on her mental health, especially given her history as a sexual assault survivor.
Despite reporting these episodes to the authorities, both women were informed that filming individuals in public spaces is not against the law in itself, complicating avenues for legal recourse. Rebecca Hitchen, representing the End Violence Against Women Coalition, commented on the phenomenon, noting that it is, unfortunately, “very predictable” that smart glasses would be exploited in ways that intimidate and humiliate women. The rapid advancement of these devices, which are increasingly designed to resemble ordinary eyewear, further exacerbates the problem by making covert recording harder to detect. Meta, a major producer of smart glasses, states that its products include features like an LED indicator light and tamper detection to signal recording, but online tutorials exist to disable these safeguards, and victims like Oonagh and Kate did not notice any recording indicator during their encounters.
Legal experts emphasize the gap between technology and legislation, with Dr. Jason Nurse from the University of Kent remarking that while smart glasses offer legitimate benefits such as assistance for people with disabilities or navigation aid, misuse needs to be addressed firmly. He underlined the importance of clear consequences for those who use such devices to cause harm, stressing that their discreet design means many do not suspect they are being recorded.
Government representatives have acknowledged the seriousness of technology-enabled abuse against women and indicated that addressing such issues will be part of forthcoming strategies aimed at protecting victims and holding offenders accountable. Meanwhile, companies like Google, which have plans to launch AI-powered smart glasses, have remained silent on these concerns when approached for comment. The delicate balance between innovation and safeguarding privacy continues to pose significant challenges in the evolving landscape of wearable technology
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