Albanese government considers ‘world-leading’ ban on smart glasses in public offices and buildings

The Albanese government is considerin a world-leadin ban on smart glasses in its offices and service centres as cooncils across Australie push the technology oot o public spaces due tae fears ower privacy.

The government has steyed clear o a sweepin ban on the import o this camera-equipped technology and is instead encouragin individual workplaces tae set their ain rules.

The public service minister, Katy Gallagher, telt reporters on Thursday that she had asked the Australian public service for advice on whether these glasses shud be forbidden.

We need clear and consistent guidance for public servants, Gallagher said.

Smart glasses can raise legitimate privacy and security concerns, particularly because o their ability tae record and capture information.

Workplaces run by the Commonwealth range frae bureaucrats offices tae Centrelink service centres and CSIRO laboratories.

Schools and hospitals run by state governments wad be left tae set their ain rules ower the technology, which has grown increasingly popular but has also caused a muckle public outcry.

A University o Sydney study o videos filmed on smart glasses and posted on Instagram found that 60% o a sample could be classified as potential harassment.

The Albanese government said it was seekin tae set a world-leadin standard. Sae far, nae national government has banned the use o the glasses across their agencies.

Courts in England and Wales in the UK and New York state in the US have banned the technology, while the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency reportedly classified them as body-worn cameras and barred them frae the federal workspace.

A local cooncil in Sydney on Tuesday became the latest tae issue a targeted ban on the use o the technology. The mayor o Canterbury-Bankstown, Bilal El-Hayek, spoke oot against what he caad pervert glasses as the cooncil barred the wearable tech frae public pools.

In August, Brisbane city cooncil became the first tae ban the glasses frae pools and Melbournes Yarra city cooncil has banned them frae playgrounds, childcare centres and gyms.

The City o Sydney and the Blacktown city cooncils have prohibited pool patrons frae usin smart glasses tae record.

Speakin tae Channel Seven earlier this month, the federal attorney general, Michelle Rowland, praised the decisions made by cooncils and said she wad consult businesses on their approach.

Businesses ken that guid privacy is guid business, Rowland said.

But we want tae make sure we get the balance richt and we dinna unfairly discriminate against folk who are usin this technology tae better participate in society.

Vision Australia and some folk livin wi disabilities have praised the technology as a support for people who are blind or have low vision. Rowland said the government wasna currently pursuin a total ban but hadna ruled onything oot.

Gallagher said she wanted the Australian public service tae set the national standard as a model employer.

Technology is changin rapidly and as a major employer the Commonwealth needs tae make sure our workplace policies keep pace, Gallagher said.

Pendin restrictions on smart glasses wad be the federal governments latest workplace technology reform after it issued guidance on the use o AI in the public service last week.

The guidelines indicate employees wadna need tae be consulted on every new tool but shud be consulted for major initiatives or changes tae how they carry oot work.

Major businesses will contribute tae new national guidelines on AI in workplaces, wi the Commonwealth Bank, Microsoft, AGL, Telstra, Kmart, Blackmores Group and Ramsay Health Care set tae attend a roundtable on Friday.

Amanda Rishworth, the employment minister, said the government wanted tae use the roundtable tae take on the lessons o businesses already usin AI.

Workers and businesses need the capability tae adopt new technologies wi confidence that appropriate safeguards are in place, Rishworth said.