The Finnish data protection authority has reminded the obligations to be respected regarding data protection when using smart glasses.

The authority emphasizes that the use of smart glasses constitutes processing of personal data, collecting images and sounds of the user and their environment. Data protection regulations apply notably when videos captured in a public place are shared on the internet. The data protection officer specified that, unlike a phone, the discreet nature of the glasses allows filming people without their knowledge, while they have the right to be informed and to request the deletion of their images. Continuous and generalized recording in public spaces could be considered surveillance. The data collected is often transmitted to manufacturers, for example for training artificial intelligence, and these manufacturers must also comply with data protection requirements.

At the European level, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) is currently preparing a common position on the subject to clarify the application of the rules and harmonize approaches within the EU, with publication expected in the autumn. The EDPB has also commissioned a study on the social acceptability of these devices, expected by the end of summer. This topic was discussed during a G7 cooperation forum, based on a collection of approaches from the authorities of G7 countries prepared by the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL).