Dutch regulator warns against sharing footage from covert camera glasses without consent

The Dutch data-protection authority, Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, cautioned that pictures or video recorded with camera-integrated glasses cannot be shared publicly without the consent of anyone recognizable in the footage. Because the glasses resemble normal eyewear and usually only display a faint recording light, many people are unaware they are being filmed. The market for such “gluurbrillen” has expanded to millions of units, prompting incidents like a man filming women in a Rotterdam toilet and another being denied entry to TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht for refusing to remove the device.

The regulator stressed that individuals must be able to move in public without fear of covert recording and is exploring possible bans or mandatory design changes, particularly in hospitals, courts and places of worship. While it does not oppose legitimate applications, such as assistance for the visually impaired, it urges clearer indicators and stronger privacy safeguards. Recent concerns also involve Meta’s AI-glass, which the authority wants to restrict due to a manipulable recording light and past data routing to a Kenyan moderation firm.