Australian privacy commissioner opens formal probe into Chinese smart-glasses maker over security flaws
Australia's privacy commissioner has launched a formal investigation into Shenzhen Qingcheng after a report revealed serious security weaknesses in its cheap smart glasses sold by retailers such as Kmart.
The Australian privacy commissioner has opened a formal investigation into Shenzhen Qingcheng Future Technology Co, the Chinese producer of low-cost smart glasses sold in Australia through Kmart, Big W Marketplace and Amazon. The action stems from an investigation that uncovered over a dozen serious security flaws in the HeyCyan phone app and the glasses, leaving users' email addresses, birth dates, images and videos exposed and enabling Bluetooth-based hijacking, with some data transmitted to Chinese servers.
Commissioner Carly Kind noted the company failed to respond to multiple regulator inquiries, suggesting a lack of basic compliance resources. The commissioner now has authority to compel information and can seek a court injunction or impose fines of up to $50 million per contravention. In the meantime, retailers have been warned to reconsider stocking the devices, and the federal government is debating a limited ban in public-service settings, though no outright import ban has been enacted. Independent security analysts reported that while some fixes were applied, many remained incomplete as of early October.
Why it matters
The investigation could lead to major penalties and affect the availability of inexpensive smart-glasses that may compromise Australians' personal data.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage frames the story around public outrage, petitions and calls to ban the glasses, while center and right-leaning coverage focus on the regulator’s formal probe and technical security flaws.
LEFT
Emphasizes the privacy backlash, petitions and calls to restrict or ban the glasses, labeling them as “pervert glasses.”
CENTER
Highlights the formal investigation by the privacy commissioner, detailing serious security flaws and potential penalties.
RIGHT
Frames the probe as an inquiry into data-handling risks, warning of the developer’s silence and urging retailers to reconsider selling the devices.
The left emphasises
- national privacy backlash
- GetUp petition with over 55,000-57,000 signatures
- glasses labelled as “pervert glasses” and calls to ban
The right emphasises
- inquiry into the HeyCyan app’s data-handling practices
- silence from the Chinese developer raises doubts about protecting personal data
- recommendation that retailers evaluate continuing to offer the devices
In this story
