Paris probes smart glasses over suspected sexual harassment

Paris prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual harassment allegedly committed through the use of smart glasses, according to Reuters citing anonymous officials. The probe follows a surge in complaints about individuals surreptitiously filming and posting women on social media without their consent, a trend that has gained momentum since the introduction of Meta's AI glasses.

The French data protection authority, CNIL, reported receiving fewer than ten complaints about smart glasses being used in the workplace. Meta's AI glasses accounted for 88% of global shipments in the second half of last year, with the company selling over 7 million units, said Reuters. The company was also reportedly in talks to double production to at least 20 million units by year-end to meet the "unprecedented" demand, primarily from the US.

The increased popularity of these devices has sparked public concern over covert recording and sexual harassment, with social media highlighting instances of men approaching women while wearing camera-equipped smart glasses and recording them without permission. Some wearers have even tried to hide the fact that their devices were recording by tampering with the light on the device.

Despite Meta fixing the issue, many remain skeptical about the ease of detection. This backlash has prompted a number of UK cinemas to consider banning the use of smart glasses and a German consumer advocacy group filing a complaint against Meta and other companies in their country. Australia is also considering a ban on camera-equipped smart glasses in the workplace, and Norway has announced plans to regulate their use.