EU Privacy Regulators Issue Strict Guidelines for Smart Glasses

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) released a non‑binding statement on Tuesday outlining stringent transparency measures for smart glasses, urging manufacturers to use flashing lights, audio alerts, voice‑activated recording cues, and smartphone notifications to signal when filming occurs. The guidelines also extend responsibility to app developers and service providers, and call for industry‑wide standards to help the public identify smart glasses and understand data handling. The EDPB cautions that the household exemption under the GDPR should be narrowly interpreted, especially when content is shared publicly. Major players—Meta, Samsung/Google, and Apple—face potential reassessment of their European product strategies. A concurrent study on social acceptability of the devices was also published today.