Severity: Low Guidance EU
EDPB publishes statement on data protection challenges of smart glasses
Original title: EDPB publishes statement on the data protection challenges of smart glasses
- Published
- Source: edpb.europa.eu
- Effective
- Not stated
- Deadline
- Not stated
- Framework: GDPR
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (as corrected 2018) source
- in 14 days
- Indicative European Parliament plenary date (first reading) for the small mid-caps omnibus, COM(2025) 501, which would raise the Article 30 records exemption to organisations under 750 employees - a forecast, not a fixed date source
Why it matters
The European Data Protection Board has published a statement and report examining the data protection risks posed by smart glasses, which contain cameras and microphones connected to the internet. Users may become data controllers under GDPR when sharing recordings on public platforms or using the devices for professional activities, while purely personal uses benefit from the household exemption. However, even outside GDPR's scope, smart glasses usage may still be subject to criminal, civil, labour, and sector-specific laws, with particular concerns for recording in sensitive environments like hospitals, schools, and workplaces.
What changed
- EDPB adopts preliminary statement on smart glasses providing guidance to users, manufacturers, and service providers about privacy and data protection challenges
- Clarification that users are considered data controllers when sharing photos/videos on public social media or using smart glasses for official, professional, or political activities
- Confirmation that purely personal activities with smart glasses (such as family recording or private translation) fall under the household exemption and are not subject to GDPR
- Recognition that smart glasses use remains subject to criminal, civil, labour law, and sector-specific regulations even when GDPR does not apply
- Emphasis on heightened risks in sensitive environments such as hospitals, schools, and workplaces, and particular vulnerability of children
Who is affected
Smart glasses users, manufacturers, and service providers in the EU; organisations in sensitive environments (hospitals, schools, workplaces); data controllers engaged in professional or public-facing activities with smart glasses
What to do
AI-assisted summary of the official document; the official text prevails. Not legal advice.