TikToker Under Police Review After Secretly Filming People With Meta 'Smart' Glasses During Scotland Road Trip

Scott Margerison, a 42-year-old TikTok creator who posts under the alias E Dobbin, is the subject of a Police Scotland inquiry after posting videos that appear to show him covertly recording members of the public, shop staff and ferry crew using Meta-branded smart glasses during a road trip across Scotland.

What Happened

Footage uploaded by Margerison shows a mix of harmless interactions and more troubling encounters. In several clips he approaches strangers and records conversations without making it clear he is filming. Some videos include abusive language, sexualised remarks about teenage girls and a confrontation in which he references the Kalergi Plan, a far-right conspiracy theory, while speaking to a UK-born Sikh shopkeeper on Skye.

Incidents Reported

Highlights from the trip — which took place in late June and early July while Margerison travelled in a white Ford Transit van — include:

• Secretly filming two teenage girls and their parents on a CalMac ferry after making sexualised comments about the teenagers.
• A verbal and intimidating exchange with a Sikh shopkeeper who later said she felt "100% intimidated" and was upset to learn a clip had been posted online.
• An aggressive confrontation in a supermarket with an elderly couple, during which Margerison followed them, swore at them and said he would post the footage on TikTok.
• A filmed tour of the bridge of the CalMac ferry MV Loch Seaforth that led the operator to pause informal bridge visits after discovering crew had been recorded without permission.

Police, Platforms and Operator Responses

Police Scotland confirmed it has received complaints and is reviewing footage to determine whether any criminality occurred. A force spokesperson said: "We are aware of the videos posted online and are assessing the content."

Meta, TikTok and YouTube have said they are investigating content linked to Margerison. CalMac suspended bridge visits after learning an officer had been filmed in a restricted area and said Margerison had been told in advance that photography and filming were not allowed.

Meta's chief executive Mark Zuckeberg models a pair of AI-enabled smart glasses [Getty Images]

Smart Glasses And Privacy Concerns

Meta-branded smart glasses contain small cameras and microphones and are marketed with AI features such as live translation and hands-free use. The devices have a recording LED designed to blink when capturing images; Meta has said it will roll out a mandatory update after reports that some users found ways to disable the warning light.

Privacy advocates and event organisers have raised concerns about covert recording. Convention promoter Monopoly Events has banned Meta glasses at its UK events after attendees reported covert filming, harassment and body-shaming. Reports also describe cases where secretly recorded clips of young women were posted online and, in some instances, accompanied by demands for payment to remove them.

Legal Context

Whether secretly recording someone with smart glasses is unlawful depends on the circumstances. In public places, people generally have a limited expectation of privacy, but covert filming can nonetheless amount to harassment or stalking if it is persistent or likely to cause fear or alarm. Civil claims are possible when recordings are made where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists (for example, in changing rooms or medical settings). If the filming is part of a commercial activity or monetised on social platforms, data protection obligations may also apply.

What Victims Say

"You're made to feel very small when you see a video like this," said the shopkeeper from Skye, who was recorded without apparent consent and said she cried after a friend alerted her to the TikTok post.

Others described feeling intimidated, upset or humiliated after discovering clips of them or their relatives online.

Next Steps

Police Scotland continues to assess complaints. Anyone who believes they were recorded or harassed in a similar way has been advised to contact Police Scotland via 101 or online reporting channels. Platform investigations are ongoing and CalMac is reviewing its visitor procedures following the incident.

Note: This article summarizes reported incidents and the responses from police, platforms and public bodies. Investigations are ongoing and further developments may follow.