EU watchdog says smart glasses must clearly show when recording

According to Al Jazeera, European Data Protection Board (EDPB) chair Anu Talus said the glasses should have clear signals when they are recording, such as "bright LED lights, audio signals or voice activation cues, privacy-friendly smartphone notifications, or unique designs".[2] Talus also told Al Jazeera that "these warnings need to be reliable, hard to ignore, and always up to date."[2]TechXplore reports that the watchdog warned of greater risks in "sensitive" spaces like schools and hospitals as well as public spots like beaches.[1] The board also raised concerns about children, who it said are "more vulnerable to covert or intrusive processing of their personal data."[1]According to TechXplore, the regulator said people who use the glasses to share a photo or video on a public social media account, or in official or professional activities, must follow EU data protection rules.[1]24NewsHD reports that Meta's glasses, made with EssilorLuxottica, have a blinking LED light when recording, and that the US company says it has taken multiple steps to stop users tampering with the light.[3]The same outlet reports that Norway's government said last week it wants a temporary ban on smart glasses in certain public places, and that Oslo has already banned camera-equipped glasses in schools.[3]According to TechXplore, a "Stop Smart Glasses" campaign in Britain and Ireland has launched a petition, which passed 10,000 signatures, meaning the U.K. government must respond.[1]