Prosecutors in Paris, France, have revealed to Reuters that they have launched at least one investigation following allegations of sexual harassment involving the misuse of smart glasses. According to authorities, actions such as filming women on the street without their consent and posting the videos to social media have become a growing concern. The cybercrime unit is currently conducting tests to understand the extent of crimes committed using smart glasses. The brand of the device used in the incident has not been disclosed.
French Prosecutors Launch Investigation into Potential Voyeurism Using Smart Glasses
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While Meta and EssilorLuxottica's "Meta Glasses," which were jointly developed, are widely popular in the smart glasses market, concerns regarding illegal surveillance and privacy violations due to the inclusion of miniature cameras are rising. A spokesperson for Meta stated that their AI glasses are designed with privacy protection features integrated from the design stage, and they will continue to enhance these functions in the future.
Furthermore, the French data protection authority (CNIL) reported that multiple complaints have been received regarding the use of smart glasses in the workplace. A CNIL official pointed out that although smart glasses feature a mechanism to notify surroundings by turning on a light during recording, it is not easy for passersby to notice the light and determine whether they are being filmed.
Human rights organizations have pointed out that victims of misuse involving smart glasses are primarily concentrated among women. They emphasized that the proliferation of surveillance technology places an additional burden, particularly on women and sexual minorities, and are calling for the necessity of regulations and countermeasures.
Sources
- カメラ付きスマートグラスで女性を盗撮して動画をオンラインに投稿するセクハラについて検察当局が捜査 （GIGAZINE、2026-09-25）