Australia’s privacy regulator has launched an investigation into Shenzhen Qingcheng, the China-based software company behind the HeyCyan app used in Kmart’s discounted smartglasses, following widespread public concern over privacy risks associated with the devices.
The inquiry follows reports that Kmart had sold out of its $89 Anko-branded smartglasses, which are capable of capturing images and recording high-definition video. Public backlash led to the items being taken down from Kmart’s website by Wednesday, though the retailer has yet to provide an official statement.
A petition hosted by GetUp has gathered more than 55,000 signatures urging restrictions on the glasses, which have been dubbed “pervert glasses” due to fears around covert recording. Several local councils across Australia, including Canterbury-Bankstown and Sydney City in New South Wales, Brisbane in Queensland, and Yarra in Melbourne, have moved to ban the devices from public spaces such as swimming pools. Additionally, the federal government is reportedly considering limits on their use within government workplaces.
Australian Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind, who was directed by the attorney general to assess the privacy implications of the smartglasses, has reached out to the key entities involved. Letters were sent to Kmart and BDI Technology, retailers of the glasses, as well as Shenzhen Qingcheng, the developer of HeyCyan. Kind also contacted Meta regarding its Ray-Ban smartglasses and Google, which is developing its own smartglasses product. However, she stated that only Shenzhen Qingcheng would be subject to the investigation due to its non-responsiveness and concerns raised by third-party analysis of the app’s technology and privacy policy.
Kind noted the challenges in regulating devices like smartglasses under current privacy legislation, which covers companies and government agencies but not individual users. She explained that retailers or manufacturers that do not collect personal information may not have obligations under the Privacy Act, and responsibility could instead lie with the software providers who manage data collection.
The commissioner emphasized the significance of proposed reforms to the Privacy Act, which would replace the existing “reasonably necessary” test for information collection with a stricter “fair and reasonable” standard. This would require entities to consider factors such as the individual’s genuine choice in data collection and the protection of children’s best interests. Kind expressed hope that these changes would enhance privacy protections related to surveillance wearables and similar connected devices.
Research from the University of Sydney has underscored the social risks posed by such technology. A study analyzing 350 Instagram videos recorded on smartglasses between 2023 and 2026 identified a trend toward discreet, point-of-view recording that is hard for bystanders to detect. In a sample of these videos, around 60 percent depicted interactions that could be considered potential harassment, with individuals showing visible discomfort or attempting to disengage.
Shenzhen Qingcheng has been contacted for comment regarding the investigation.