The Australian eSafety Commissioner has released formal advice regarding the use of smart glasses equipped with cameras, such as Meta’s Ray-Ban series. The regulator is calling for industry-wide standards that would automatically blur the faces of bystanders captured on video and mandate more obvious visual indicators to alert the public when a device is actively recording.

While the commissioner acknowledged that these devices can provide meaningful accessibility tools for individuals who are blind or have low vision, the report highlights a growing tension between these benefits and the privacy rights of the general public. The guidance comes as the Australian federal government faces mounting pressure from privacy advocates and concerned citizens to consider a total ban on the technology due to the potential for non-consensual recording.

Currently, there is no consensus on how to balance these competing interests. The regulator’s stance emphasizes that manufacturers must prioritize privacy by design, rather than treating it as an afterthought. The industry has yet to issue a formal, unified response to these specific recommendations, though the debate over the future of wearable camera technology continues to intensify as these devices become more widely available to consumers.