A German digital rights organisation, HateAid, has called for the prohibition of Meta’s smart glasses, warning that the technology could make digital harassment and privacy violations easier to commit.
The demand followed reports from young women in Potsdam who lodged complaints with the police, alleging that some men secretly recorded them at a public swimming facility using the devices.
HateAid argued that the glasses were contributing to a rise in digital abuse because offenders no longer require advanced technical skills to capture people without their consent.
“This technology is fueling digital violence, as perpetrators now need virtually no technical know-how,” the organisation said.
Supporting the concerns, Hamburg’s data protection commissioner, Thomas Fuchs, said a complete ban on smart glasses could be considered. He explained that an assessment by his office found the glasses’ recording indicator light, designed to notify people nearby, was difficult to detect in daylight conditions.
Fuchs added that he was in discussions with officials in Ireland, where Meta’s European headquarters is located, to work towards establishing an EU-wide framework on the responsible and ethical use of smart glasses.