Australia is considering a nationwide ban on Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses across government workplaces amid growing privacy and harassment concerns. The proposal would bar the devices in offices, service centres, laboratories and local councils while allowing schools and government hospitals to set their own rules. A University of Sydney review found about 60% of 350 Instagram videos made with the glasses could be classed as potentially harassing, and critics cite Meta’s broader privacy record as a major concern.
Australia Considers Nationwide Ban On Ray‑Ban Meta Smart Glasses In Government Workplaces
Credit: Meta / EssilorLuxottica
The Australian government is weighing a sweeping restriction that would bar Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses from use across state‑run workplaces, citing growing public concern over privacy and potential harassment.
What’s proposed: The draft measure would prohibit the devices in government‑run offices, service centres, laboratories and local council workplaces. Schools and government‑run hospitals would be able to set their own policies rather than being covered by the blanket ban. Officials say the aim is to provide clear, consistent rules for public servants nationwide.
Why officials are concerned
Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher told officials the government sought public feedback and warned that “smart glasses can raise legitimate privacy and security concerns, particularly because of their ability to record and capture information.” Critics and privacy advocates argue the eyewear could facilitate covert recording and even enable harassment in public settings.
Evidence and public reaction
The devices have attracted sharp criticism. A University of Sydney analysis of 350 public Instagram videos recorded with the glasses found roughly 60% could be categorised as potentially containing harassment of an individual or group. In public debate, the eyewear has been nicknamed “pervert glasses” amid fears they can be used to film people without consent.
Credit: Future
Broader privacy concerns
Meta’s broader privacy record has amplified unease. The company has faced allegations of extensive data collection, of not fully honoring user tracking preferences, and of using large volumes of user data to train artificial intelligence models. Meta apps such as Facebook and Instagram have repeatedly been highlighted in privacy critiques.
Global and local precedents
No national government has yet introduced a blanket ban across all agencies, but targeted restrictions exist: courts in England and Wales and in New York State have ruled against the devices in specific cases; the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has banned them; and several Australian local councils have already barred the glasses in playgrounds, childcare centres, gyms and public pools.
The proposed government action also follows Australia’s recent move to restrict social media access for under‑16s, underscoring a broader regulatory push to address tech‑related safety and privacy risks.
As public feedback is considered, Canberra says it seeks to set a "world‑leading" national standard for handling wearable recording technology in public service environments. Until device makers address privacy and surveillance worries, restrictions on smart glasses in sensitive settings are likely to continue expanding.
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