The dark side of smartglasses and public surveillance
A US TikToker is facing backlash after using smartglasses to film and upload videos of women in public without consent. An RMIT expert comments on concerns around this technology and increasing public surveillance.
Dr Dana Mckay, Senior Lecturer in Innovative Interactive Technologies, School of Computing Technologies
“The advertised value of these glasses is to be able to capture the world around you in photos or videos, much as you would with your phone. They also boast a microphone, for speech-based interactions including information search about the things you're seeing.
“For some, not needing to look at a phone is really useful—for example while watching a kid's soccer game or driving.
“Like many technologies that allow you to record your environment, though, they have a downside: they can be used to surveil people without their knowledge or consent, including, as demonstrated by Harvard students last year, to 'dox' people.
“There are privacy options that could be enforced, like the camera shutter sound that couldn't be turned off on early camera phones. The Meta version of these glasses does have an LED to indicate it is recording, but it is relatively small and unobtrusive, and may not be recognised by everyone being recorded, and many people are working on strategies to stop even this minor notification.
“These glasses are an expansion of the recording devices that are increasingly pervading our societies; phones, smart doorbells, and 'nanny cams', and like many of these tools, early reports of their misuse shows it targeting women.
“In an age where a short video clip can be used to seed deepfake AIs, the proliferation of surveillance is deeply concerning. The solution to these problems is likely to be legal—clearer marking of recording glasses, for example. In an age where constant surveillance by public bodies, companies and private citizens is becoming normal, though, the need for rapidly adapting privacy laws is urgent.”
Dana McKay is Associate Dean, Interaction, Technology and Information in the School of Computing Technologies at RMIT University. Dana's research focuses on ensuring advances in digital information technologies make the world a fairer and more equitable place.
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