'We stop thinking about the data that we're giving away because it's cool' — Smart tech and the decline of public privacy

Since the mass adoption of CCTV, individuals have largely accepted sacrificing some personal privacy for public safety. However, are people ready to surrender that same control to everyday citizens for the sake of fashion? In 2025 alone, over 7 million purchased Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. This sudden surge has led to a spike in covert harassment, resulting in bans in public venues and calls to prohibit sales entirely.

Yet these glasses are merely the most recognizable product in a larger cultural shift dubbed the "chicification of surveillance." From smart doorbells to camera-equipped smart cars, including rumored camera-fitted AirPods, modern technology is gradually transforming citizens into passive, constant monitors of one another. As the line between fashion and surveillance blurs, one must question whether this is a worthwhile trade-off for innovation and convenience, or if it's time to reconsider our approach to public privacy.

While smart glasses provide benefits like real-time translations, on-the-go content creation, and hands-free commands, their mainstream appeal hinges on more than just practicality. To make smart hardware a part of everyday lifestyle, tech companies are increasingly drawing inspiration from the fashion industry. For instance, Meta launched a campaign featuring Kylie Jenner to promote its Ray-Ban smart glasses.

According to Meta's Vice President of Fashion, Eva Chen, the new frames are designed to seamlessly integrate into and enhance one's personal style. This approach mirrors how digital rights advocates argue that tech companies and influencers are subtly altering public perception of constant recording. They transform what would have been private moments or distasteful levels of recording into something cool, fashionable, or desirable.

However, this shift raises concerns, as digital rights advocates warn that it's all about collecting more data to fuel AI advancements. As journalist Catharina Doria puts it, "We stop thinking about the data we're giving away because it's cool." This "coolification of surveillance" not only enables tech companies to gather vast amounts of personal information but also complicates privacy issues as wearables become commonplace in public spaces.

While individuals have the right to purchase these devices, their actions can still impact others around them by capturing the voices, movements, and behaviors of bystanders without their consent. As Doria questions, "When you're walking on the streets, and someone passes you with smart earbuds, smart glasses, and smart whatever, it is still your face, still your voice, still you.

Suddenly, you don't have that control anymore because a third party is deciding that for you." This raises the crucial question of whether current privacy laws adequately protect individuals in the age of surveillance chic, especially in public spaces where data protection frameworks like the GDPR don't fully apply to continuous ambient recording.