SMART glasses pose “considerable privacy risks” for Islanders, the information commissioner has warned – after multiple Jersey shops began selling them.
Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man have issued a Joint Data Protection Advisory warning of the implications this new technology could have on people’s privacy.
Smart glasses, like Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, which are sold by Vision Express and de Gruchy, allow users to capture first-person footage through a camera built into the frame.
Paul Vane, information commissioner for Jersey, said: “With any technology, there are benefits and risks. In the case of smart glasses such as those described, there are clear advantages in their use.
“However, there are also considerable privacy risks of which the general public and users of these glasses need to be fully aware.
“As with any recording device, whether that be CCTV, dashcam, helmet cam, video doorbell, or even a mobile phone, the user is expected to act responsibly and consider the privacy impacts of its use on other people. Equally, those affected must also feel able to exercise their statutory rights under data protection laws and feel empowered to challenge users who have not been transparent about the use of the technology.”
It comes after Deputy Kirsten Morel told the JEP that an outright ban on smart glasses could be considered. He said: “It seems to me that Meta glasses destroy the trust that exists between people when interacting with each other.
“Remove that trust and we’re heading to a very bad place. Maybe we should ban these [smart glasses] in Jersey.”
Smart glasses have already been banned in theatres, pubs and restaurants in the UK as well as courts in England and Wales.
The Joint Data Protection Advisory is the first robust indication of the islands’ concern for the technology’s impact on the public.
It states that the Data Protection Authority (Jersey) Law 2018 is “technology neutral”, which means the law applies regardless of how or what technology is being used.
The Advisory suggests what organisations and individuals can do to protect their privacy, including recognising when a device is recording, knowing their rights and understanding where the data goes.
The Advisory points out that “Meta has confirmed that when AI features are used (such as voice queries about visual surroundings) captured media can be transmitted to its cloud servers reviewed by staff or contractors and used to improve its system”.
While Meta says it blurs or distorts this information, the Advisory stated that “these safeguards may not always work as intended” if there is poor light in recordings or in difficult recording conditions.
Brent Homan, Guernsey’s data protection commissioner, added: “Public spaces do not erase privacy rights. While smart glasses can empower individuals to navigate their lives, especially those with disabilities, they can and must be used in a manner that respects the dignity and rights of others.”
