Australia is set to impose the world's first ban on smart glasses in government buildings over 'pervert glasses' privacy fears

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Australia's Albanese government is weighing a ban on camera-equipped smart glasses in all federal workplaces, which would make it the first national government to impose such a restriction. Public service minister Katy Gallagher has asked the Australian public service commission for advice on prohibiting the recording devices, warning they pose 'legitimate privacy and security concerns'. The move follows a wave of local council bans, including Sydney's Canterbury-Bankstown, whose mayor branded the devices 'pervert glasses' before barring them from public pools. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese linked the push to Australia's record of digital safety leadership.

A University of Sydney study found 60% of a sample of smart glasses videos posted on Instagram could be classified as potential harassment.

England and Wales have already banned Meta smart glasses in courts, and a German advocacy group has filed a criminal complaint against Meta citing privacy laws.