Sydney council bans AI smart glasses at public pools over privacy, safety fears
ONE of Sydney’s largest councils has banned the use of AI-enabled smart glasses at its public swimming pools, joining a growing push by Australian councils to curb the technology over privacy and safety concerns. Canterbury-Bankstown Council approved...
Canterbury-Bankstown Council in Sydney has prohibited the use of AI-enabled smart glasses at its public swimming pools, joining other Australian councils in addressing privacy and safety concerns. During a council meeting on Tuesday, Mayor Bilal El-Hayek criticized the devices, labeling them "glasses for perverts" due to fears they could be used to surreptitiously record individuals without consent.
Reports indicate that women have been recorded without their knowledge and consent, with some footage subsequently shared on social media platforms. Mayor El-Hayek emphasized that the latest smart glasses, equipped with high-resolution cameras and AI features, pose risks to personal safety and privacy. He highlighted that these devices, which can also scan faces and potentially access personal information, could be used to obtain sensitive data about individuals.
This ban follows similar measures taken by Brisbane and Melbourne's Yarra Council, which banned covert recording at public swimming pools in response to increasing apprehensions over child safety. Yarra Council also plans to advocate for enhanced privacy legislation at the federal level to safeguard the public from emerging technologies.
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