'Turn the cameras off:' London's growing privacy pushback against smart glasses
20 hours ago
- Smart glasses with cameras are gaining popularity, with 7 million pairs sold in 2025 and new models expected from Meta, Samsung, and Google.
- Privacy concerns have emerged as wearers can film others without consent, leading to backlash and bans in London venues like pubs and theaters.
- Venues such as Wetherspoons and ATG Entertainment have prohibited smart glasses, and anti-smart glasses ads have appeared at bus stations.
- Meta and Google have introduced safeguards like tamper-resistant recording lights, but critics argue these measures are insufficient.
- Overregulation could harm blind or visually impaired users who rely on smart glasses for accessibility tasks.
- Tech companies continue investing heavily in smart glasses, with Meta holding 84% of the market, despite growing unease.