One of Sydney’s largest local councils, Canterbury-Bankstown, has joined other Australian councils in banning the use of AI-powered smart glasses at public swimming pools amid rising concerns about privacy and safety. The council voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday evening to ban the technology at its aquatic facilities, with Mayor Bilal El-Hayek describing the devices as “pervert glasses” due to their potential for covert recording.
Since the release of these smart glasses, which feature high-resolution cameras and AI capabilities such as real-time translation, object recognition, and facial scanning, there have been growing reports of women filmed without consent. Several social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, and local community forums, have become venues for women expressing unease over the technology’s ability to capture and share footage discreetly.
El-Hayek highlighted concerns about individuals, including “perverts and paedophiles,” using the glasses to secretly film in sensitive areas such as change rooms, pools, and near schools. He emphasized the potential invasion of privacy, noting that the glasses not only record but can also scan faces and potentially access personal information.
This move follows precedent set last month when Brisbane’s City Council became the first in Australia to prohibit covert filming at 21 public swimming pools, responding to worries about the safety of children. Tom Sulston, head of policy at Digital Rights Watch, commended these steps, stressing the importance of protecting public spaces from unwanted surveillance and expressing hope that more councils, as well as state and federal governments, would adopt similar measures.
Similarly, the City of Yarra in Melbourne implemented restrictions last week, banning smart glasses across its leisure and aquatic centers, childcare facilities, and playgrounds. Yarra Council also announced plans to petition the federal government to strengthen privacy laws regarding emerging technologies.
In Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Randwick Council has also prohibited the use of smart glasses at the Des Renford Leisure Centre, citing “growing community concerns” around their misuse. Signage has been installed warning visitors that anyone wearing smart glasses will be asked to remove them or leave the premises. However, exemptions exist for people with accessibility needs, including those with vision impairments.
At the federal level, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has acknowledged the complexities of regulating smart glasses but has not ruled out further restrictions. In August, she raised privacy concerns with the Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind after receiving community feedback about the increasing use of the devices. Rowland described privacy as fundamental to personal dignity and security and noted that the government is working on updating privacy laws to better address digital-age challenges.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner also weighed in, urging manufacturers to build in automatic face-blurring features and clearer indicators when recording is taking place. In advice issued at the end of August, the office acknowledged the accessibility benefits of smart glasses for people with vision impairments but cautioned that these benefits must be balanced against privacy and safety risks. The eSafety Commissioner highlighted the existing backlash against the technology and the importance of industry responsibility to mitigate potential harms.