The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has spoken about the challenges posed by smart glasses and other wearable devices regarding privacy protection and public trust.

In a publication, the chief executive of the British authority highlights the dual nature of these technologies. On one hand, they offer significant benefits, notably for the autonomy of people with visual impairments or for assisting people with dementia, as illustrated by a project conducted in the ICO's regulatory sandbox. On the other hand, their irresponsible use to record or harass individuals without their consent raises serious concerns about surveillance and security. The main challenge does not lie in the technology itself, already present in phones, but in its integration into discreet wearable devices, making data collection less visible.

This situation challenges traditional transparency mechanisms, often visual like CCTV signs. The ICO notes that data protection law does not apply to personal or domestic use, but this exception may not cover the wide dissemination of recordings online. Beyond the legal framework, the debate concerns social norms and data protection by design. The authority announces it will continue its research on public perception of artificial intelligence and plans a consultation on a new code relating to AI and automated decision-making in 2027, to promote responsible innovation.