Australia considers new privacy laws for smart glasses as crossbenchers push import ban

As low-cost smart glasses sell out across Australia, raising severe privacy and harassment concerns, the federal government faces intense pressure to regulate the technology. The Australian Greens, backed by key crossbenchers, plan to introduce a bill to temporarily ban smart glasses imports. However, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has ruled out an import ban, citing international trade complexities, while the eSafety Commissioner urges manufacturers to voluntarily adopt safety features like automatic face-blurring.

Smart glasses privacy concerns

• ▪Smart glasses, colloquially referred to as 'pervert glasses,' are being used in Australia to covertly record individuals in public spaces without their consent.
• ▪Surreptitious recordings from smart glasses are being used to create social media content, including 'pickup artist' videos, which privacy advocates say disproportionately target and harass women.
• ▪Low-cost smart glasses, including Kmart's $89 Anko brand, have sold out across Australia, raising concerns about the rapid proliferation of accessible surveillance technology.

Greens import ban proposal

• ▪The proposed Greens bill would amend the Privacy Act to prohibit filming, storing, or sharing footage from wearable recording devices without express consent, extending the Act's coverage to individuals.
• ▪The Greens' proposed import ban on smart glasses includes specific carve-outs to ensure the technology remains available to people with significant vision impairment.
• ▪The Australian Greens plan to introduce a private member's bill in parliament to ban the import of smart glasses and other wearable recording devices for at least 12 months.

Labor privacy law reforms

• ▪Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on August 31, 2026, that the government is considering options to give Australians greater control over social media algorithms, including potential opt-out features.
• ▪Australian Attorney-General Michelle Rowland announced on August 31, 2026, that the federal government will not implement an import ban on smart glasses, citing complex international trade and legal implications.
• ▪The Australian government's proposed privacy reforms include a 'fair and reasonable test' to prevent data harvesting and a 'right to erasure' allowing consumers to request data destruction.

eSafety design recommendations

• ▪The eSafety Commissioner recommended that smart glasses incorporate prominent, non-disablable visual indicators when recording and be designed to prevent the identification of members of the public.
• ▪The eSafety Commissioner currently lacks the legislative power to compel smart glasses manufacturers to implement safety-by-design features.
• ▪Australia's eSafety Commissioner issued advice on August 31, 2026, urging smart glasses manufacturers to design devices that automatically blur the faces of individuals who have not consented to being filmed.

Crossbench support for restrictions

• ▪Digital rights groups, including Electronic Frontiers Australia and Digital Rights Watch, have expressed support for a temporary ban or moratorium on the sale and import of smart glasses.
• ▪Independent federal politicians, including Senator David Pocock and Kate Chaney, have publicly supported the Greens' proposal for a temporary import ban on smart glasses.