By Gemma Williams
Smart glasses have become the latest ‘flex’ in wearable tech. Promoted by celebrities like Chris Hemsworth and Kris Jenner, sales are on the rise – and for many users, they’re a cool accessory and a new tool for content creation.
They look like everyday glasses – prescription and sunnies – and cost less than a smartphone. But with the ability to record, live stream and take photos – without the people in frame even realising – this technology has the potential to become a surveillance nightmare.
Victoria University (VU) researchers are sounding the alarm on the need for urgent policy to govern its use.
Dr Janine Arantes and Dr Andrew Welsman, are particularly concerned about the usage of smart glasses in educational settings. They have released a new research report A Phone on Your Face? Rethinking Mobile Device Policy when Smart Glasses are mainstream in Education which analyses the absence of meaningful policy guidance to protect students, teachers and the education system from harm this technology could inflict.
Speaking of the risks Dr Welsman says: “unlike everyday eyewear, smart glasses can share our movements and interactions at school with big tech companies.”
While they have the potential to improve educational equity for students with disabilities – such as object recognition for students with vision impairments and reading support for students with dyslexia through voice prompts – there is a lack of guidance on their usage in education settings as accessibility tools. Without guardrails, Dr Welsman and Dr Arantes are concerned about their misuse and the potential to threaten fundamental protections for students in classrooms and for staff in their workplaces.
“This concern is particularly urgent given the rising incidence of sexual harassment against female teachers and students, and the relative ease with which deepfakes can now be created,” Dr Arantes said.
While deepfakes can be generated from any online images, smart glasses enable photography and footage in classrooms and school settings, without knowledge or consent.
“The discreet design of smart glasses makes covert recordings less noticeable, increasing the risk of misuse without detection – until the harm is done.”
Dr Arantes and Dr Welsman are concerned that without urgent policy, the wearing of smart glasses in classrooms will increase.
“We’re calling on government and industry to raise awareness of smart glasses’ unique form and functionalities. And to consider to what extent their policies make sure educators and students are safe in the classroom. Smart glasses have many beneficial features, especially for students with hearing or vision disabilities. However, without guardrails, smart glasses and similar technologies could become very dangerous,” Dr Welsman warned.
While policy catches up, here are some tips for parents of school-aged children:
Check before you buy – Smart glasses may be banned in exams. Hold off on prescription versions until school rules are clear.
Ask your school or club – These glasses look like regular eyewear, so they don’t raise alarms like phones do. Talk about safety and rights.
Balance safety with inclusion – Some people use smart glasses for disability support, that doesn’t make them a threat. Talk about rights and safety.
