Politics · United Kingdom · 7 hrs ago
UK considers restrictions on smart glasses over secret filming concerns
The UK government is considering restrictions on smart glasses amid concerns they can be used to film people secretly.
Safeguarding minister Satvir Kaur said the options include restricting sales to certain users or use in certain settings.
Liberal Democrat MP Anna Sabine raised concerns that women have been filmed without their knowledge or consent and that videos have spread online.
Smart glasses can include cameras, microphones and displays, and some adverts promote discreet filming.
Kaur said the devices can also be useful, including for people with visual impairments, so the government is weighing potential benefits against privacy and safety risks.
NHS England and the Department for Education are also looking at wearable technology in some settings.
No decision on restrictions has been announced.
The UK government is considering restrictions on smart glasses amid concerns they are being used to secretly film women.
Safeguarding minister Satvir Kaur said the options include restricting the devices in some settings and limiting sales to certain users.
Liberal Democrat MP Anna Sabine said women had reported finding videos of themselves filmed without their knowledge or consent.
Kaur said smart glasses can also benefit people who are visually impaired.
Some settings, including courts, already prohibit cameras, while health and education bodies are reviewing wearable technology.
- Who
- The UK government, represented by safeguarding minister Satvir Kaur, is considering restrictions. Liberal Democrat MP Anna Sabine has raised concerns about secret filming.
- What
- The government is considering restricting smart glasses in some settings and limiting sales to certain users.
- When
- Kaur discussed the issue in the House of Commons on Wednesday. The article was published on 4 November 2026.
- Where
- The United Kingdom.
- Why
- The government is considering restrictions amid concerns that smart glasses are being used to film women without their knowledge or consent.
UK government
Anna Sabine
Approach
UK government
The government is looking into options to restrict smart glasses in certain settings and restrict sales to certain users.
Anna Sabine
Sabine said parliamentarians should not wait until it is too late to regulate.
Main concern
UK government
The government says the benefits must be weighed against potential harms and notes that the glasses can help people who are visually impaired.
Anna Sabine
Sabine said the devices could erode safety and privacy in public spaces and raise questions about consent.
Jason O’Connell used a teleprompter feature in his smart glasses to read a speech in the Senedd debating chamber.
Anna Sabine held a debate on smart glasses in the House of Commons, where Satvir Kaur discussed possible restrictions.
The Guardian reported that the government was considering restrictions on smart glasses.
- Minister
- Satvir Kaur, safeguarding minister
- Possible measure
- Restrict sales to certain users
- Debate
- Held by Anna Sabine in the House of Commons on Wednesday
- Existing restriction
- Cameras are prohibited in courts
- Reviewing bodies
- NHS England and the Department for Education are looking into wearable technology in certain settings
What people are saying
The benefits of smart glasses must be weighed against the harms they can cause.
For example, for those that are visually impaired, smart glasses have been a gamechanger, helping them navigate the world around them.
Women are reporting waking up after nights out to find videos of themselves have gone viral online, filmed without their knowledge or consent by men wearing smart glasses.
One of the things I identified, a weakness of mine, was that my head was down looking at my notes a lot and I wanted to get away from that.