Australian government considers ban on smart glasses in public buildings

The federal government is weighing a potential ban on camera-equipped smart glasses inside commonwealth offices and service centres, arguing the wearables pose “legitimate privacy and security concerns.” The public service minister has asked for advice to create clear, consistent workplace rules across entities ranging from departmental offices to Centrelink service centres and CSIRO labs, while leaving schools and state-run hospitals to set their own policies. Local councils and courts have already moved against the devices: several Sydney and Melbourne councils have banned smart glasses in pools, playgrounds and childcare centres, UK courts and New York state have restricted their use, and US ICE treated them as body-worn cameras. A University of Sydney study found 60% of sampled smart-glasses videos posted on Instagram could be classed as potential harassment.

The government frames the step as an attempt to set a “world-leading” standard that balances privacy with access, noting advocacy groups and some blind and low-vision users value the technology as an assistive aid. Officials stress workplaces must update policies as technology evolves and will link any smart-glasses rules to broader recent guidance on AI and digital tools; a planned roundtable with major businesses aims to inform national workplace safeguards so workers and employers can adopt new tech with appropriate protections.