Europe Eyes Potential Ban on Smart Glasses Over Privacy Risks

Smart glasses have come under increasing scrutiny from European privacy regulators and lawmakers concerned about surveillance and data collection risks. The European Data Protection Board has commissioned a report examining the devices' 'social acceptability' as concerns grow over their ability to record video and audio without clear consent from bystanders.

The regulatory focus reflects broader European efforts to impose strict privacy safeguards on emerging technologies. Privacy advocates worry that widespread adoption of smart glasses could enable covert surveillance in public spaces, raising questions about consent and data protection compliance under existing regulations.