The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) issued the non-binding recommendation on Tuesday, urging manufacturers to equip smart glasses with clear signals — such as bright LED lights, audio cues, or distinct designs — that reliably inform bystanders when they are being recorded.
EDPB chair Anu Talus said: “These warnings need to be reliable, hard to ignore, and always up to date. Even in public spaces, bystanders should clearly understand that someone is filming or photographing them.”
The advisory highlights particular risks in sensitive settings such as schools, hospitals, and public beaches, and warns that children are especially vulnerable to covert or intrusive processing of their personal data.
The push from Brussels comes alongside growing national concern. Norway’s government last week flagged privacy worries and indicated it wants a temporary ban on smart glasses in certain public places. The capital Oslo has already prohibited camera-equipped glasses in schools. In France, the e-Enfance association, which runs the national hotline for online abuse victims, has raised alarms about videos recorded with smart glasses being shared online. French prosecutors last month opened a criminal investigation following sexual harassment complaints.
The EDPB’s guidance is non-binding, but signals that European regulators are taking a wary stance toward the expanding capabilities of wearable devices.