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Albanese government considers ‘world-leading’ ban on smart glasses in public offices and buildings
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The Albanese government is considering a “world-leading” ban on smart glasses in its offices and service centres as councils around Australia push the technology out of public spaces over privacy fears.
Key facts
- Major businesses will contribute to new national guidelines on AI in workplaces, with Commonwealth Bank, Microsoft, AGL, Telstra, Kmart, Blackmores Group and Ramsay Health Care to attend a roundtable
- Courts in England and Wales in the UK and New York state in the US have banned the technology, while the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency reportedly classified them as body-worn
- A University of Sydney study of smart glasses-filmed videos posted on Instagram found 60% of a sample could be classified as potential harassment
- Speaking to Channel Seven earlier this month, the federal attorney general, Michelle Rowland, praised councils’ decisions and said she would consult businesses on their approach
Summary
The government has avoided a sweeping ban on the import of the camera-equipped technology and encouraged individual workplaces to set their own rules. The public service minister, Katy Gallagher, said on Thursday she had asked the Australian public service for advice on whether the glasses should be prohibited. “We need clear and consistent guidance for public servants,” Gallagher said. “Smart glasses can raise legitimate privacy and security concerns, particularly because of their ability to record and capture information.”