Cybersecurity Policy Report, Recommendations for Use of Smart Glasses Offered in France, (Jun 30, 2026)

By Tony Foley

Following on the heels of a survey launched at the beginning of the year exploring the relationship and perceptions that French people have regarding smart glasses, the French data protection authority, the Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL), called yesterday for “enhanced collective vigilance” to maintain an appropriate balance between innovation and respect for the rights and freedoms of individuals.

The survey, conducted in January and sampling more than 2,000 adults, revealed that ongoing development of the technology has aroused curiosity among the public while also generating feelings of mistrust and concern (CPR, May 11). In a statement yesterday, CNIL described the latest developments in smart glasses technology, citing the involvement of artificial intelligence (AI) and the development of devices capable of operating without a mobile phone, instead enabling information to be displayed by the wearer and controlled by a tool based on neurotechnologies, like a bracelet that detects and interprets hand gestures.

CNIL’s statement maintains that the use of smart glasses involves significant processing of personal data subject to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and French data protection law. By design, smart glasses capture sounds, images and videos of people in proximity to the wearer, often without those people being aware of the capture. In addition, since the latest iterations of smart glasses are not clearly distinguishable from “classic glasses,” it is difficult for persons to know whether they are being filmed or recorded. The agency further cited a significant risk representing a shift from fixed, regulated, and supervised surveillance to invisible and ubiquitous mobile surveillance.

The statement notes that, while promotors of smart glasses highlight their usefulness, particularly for people with disabilities, the deployment of the technology must not be at the expense of people’s rights and freedoms. Article 9 of the French Civil Code guarantees the right to privacy in all places, with violations punishable by fines and imprisonment. Accordingly, the agency said, any user of smart glasses must respect the right to privacy of persons whose image or voice may be captured by the glasses and, where appropriate, obtain consent.

Based on the survey results, CNIL has launched an action plan on data protection compliance for smart glasses that will include discussions with its European counterparts at the level of the European Data Protection Board. For issues going beyond data protection, CNIL will consult with other competent public authorities. Finally, the agency will address smart glasses at its forthcoming events. In the meantime, CNIL outlines the following best practices for smart glasses users:

1. Inform people nearby when using smart glasses;

2. Disable the glasses’ functions as soon as they are no longer useful;

3. Turn off smart glasses whenever you are asked to turn off your cellphone;

4. Avoid using glasses in places where people do not expect them;

5. Obtain consent from individuals before posting their photos or videos on social media; and

6. Think before sharing, understanding that even an innocuous online posting can have lasting affects for the people involved.

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