The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has published a statement on the data protection challenges posed by smart glasses.

The EDPB adopted this statement during its plenary session, accompanied by a report entitled "The Connected Gaze. Video Recording, Surveillance and Evidence Management in the Era of Smart Glasses," developed within its Support Expert Group (SPE) program. The statement highlights privacy risks associated with these devices, which resemble ordinary glasses but incorporate cameras and microphones connected to the internet. It warns against recording individuals without their knowledge, a heightened risk in sensitive environments such as hospitals or schools, and for children. This initial communication aims to provide preliminary guidance to users, manufacturers, and service providers.

The statement clarifies shared responsibility: a user is considered responsible for processing if recordings are publicly shared or used for professional purposes, while purely personal use may fall under the GDPR domestic exemption. Nevertheless, manufacturers and service providers remain responsible for processing and cannot delegate their obligations. The EDPB emphasizes the major challenge of transparency, as the discreet appearance of the glasses prevents third parties from knowing they are being recorded. It is recommended that devices clearly signal their recording activity, for example through obvious light or sound signals, so that data subjects are unambiguously informed.