This year's Defcon badges include Baochip-1x, an open source chip whose security is verifiable and that can also be used as a hardware security token (Kim Zetter/Wired)

The DefCon security conference has joined the ranks of other organizations in banning smart glasses with recording capabilities. Organizers have taken the step due to concerns over the inability to determine if such devices are recording, which they believe erodes trust and invades individuals' privacy. Visitors are instructed to bring non-smart glasses, as corrective lenses alone will not be considered an exception.

This ban has been added to DefCon's already stringent photography rules, which also ban group shots and encourage the use of portrait mode or a low F-stop to ensure the foreground remains in focus, blurring background elements. The smart glasses industry is experiencing significant growth, with tech giants Google and Samsung recently unveiling Gemini-powered eyewear, and Apple planning to release its latest smart glasses generation in June.

The increasing popularity of smart glasses has also prompted Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) to become increasingly cautious about their potential impact on organizations, raising questions about data security.