European privacy regulators seek clearer recording alerts on smart glasses
The European Data Protection Board’s recommendations are not legally binding, but will guide checks on compliance with EU privacy rules.
Smart glasses makers should combine several ways of warning bystanders that recording is taking place, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) said in a statement issued on 13 October 2026 after a Brussels meeting.
The board, which brings together national privacy regulators, suggested recording lights or sounds, audible voice commands to start recording and alerts delivered to nearby smartphones. It also recommended design features that help people recognise the devices.
Although the recommendations have no binding legal force, they will inform regulators’ assessments of whether manufacturers and users meet EU privacy requirements, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The board said responsibility for compliance may extend beyond wearers to device makers and providers of associated apps or services.
The regulators also urged a narrow reading of the GDPR exemption for personal data processed in a household setting. They said it would not cover sharing images or footage of other people with an unrestricted audience through a public social media account.
Meta says the LED that lights up during recording on its glasses is an important privacy safeguard. The EDPB called for common industry standards to help the public identify smart glasses and understand their data processing. It also commissioned a study on public acceptance of the devices, published on 13 October 2026.
