Faced with connected glasses, let’s remain vigilant: this is the message from the policeman of our personal data, in a press release published this Monday, May 11. The independent authority publishes a list of good practices to follow, recalling that any wearer of these devices must respect the right to privacy of the people around them.
Connected glasses present major privacy risks » « by their ability to capture, process and interpret data in real time, without those around them necessarily being aware of it”warns the National Commission for Information Technology and Liberties (CNIL), in a press release published this Monday, May 11. Since 2022, the platform giant Meta has launched its model of so-called smart glasses, the Ray-Ban Meta, since joined by other companies such as Xiaomi (AI Glasses), Alibaba (Quark AI) but also Alain Afflelou (Magic Connect) or Krys (Smart Signature Krys).
Also read: Test of Alain Afflelou connected glasses: a good idea but a frustrating outcome
If manufacturers present their connected glasses as being respectful of privacy, an explosive investigation by the Swedish newspapers Svenska Dagbladet and Göteborgs-Posten recently lifted the veil on the controversial processing of personal data from Ray-Ban Meta. Several NGOs have since called for better regulation of these “ more than discreet snitches ».
Also read: Ray-Ban Meta: everything your eyes see can be seen by the multinational or its partners, including your sex life
These devices constitute a new challenge for privacy and raise strong ethical and societal issues », Confirms the French privacy guardian. These glasses in fact feature “ sensors within their mount (microphone and camera) » « likely to capture sounds, images and videos from people located near their user, sometimes without them being fully aware of it ».
Said differently, “ the glasses film everything their wearer looks at. There is therefore a significant risk that they will not be identified as “connected” by people who are in their catchment area. », Indicates the CNIL. The indicator lights, supposed to warn of a recording in progress, “ have only a limited scope, especially since they are absent for certain uses », Adds the French authority.
“From video protection to omnipresent mobile surveillance”
However, these devices could lead to “ a profound transformation of our societies » who would pass « from fixed, signaled and supervised surveillance (the video protection that we all know and are able to identify) to mobile, almost invisible and omnipresent surveillance », Warns the CNIL. What constitute “ a significant risk of generalized surveillance and a form of trivialization of it », writes the National Commission for Information Technology and Liberties. Any person could believe, and sometimes rightly so, to be constantly recorded, whether in private or public places, “ creating a feeling of being constantly observed, even monitored, and gradually generating a form of self-censorship », Details this independent authority.
If the guardian of our personal data recognizes the usefulness of these devices, particularly for people with disabilities, he believes that these glasses must remain ” useful aids – not intrusive tools “. The CNIL thus recalls that “ any user of connected glasses must respect the right to privacy of people whose image or voice is likely to be captured by the glasses and, where applicable, obtain their consent ».
Recording or transmitting without consent the image of a person in a private place violates the right to privacy
This right to privacy is defined in Article 9 of the Civil Code: the act of violating the privacy of another person’s private life by fixing, recording or transmitting, without their consent, the image of a person who is in a private placeis punishable by one year of imprisonment and a fine of €45,000.
And for “ places where a high degree of privacy is expected (medical offices, changing rooms, toilets) “, the use of these devices is all the more problematic. The CNIL announces that it is launching several projects “ on the compliance of connected glasses in terms of personal data protection », some of which will be initiated with its European counterparts. In the meantime, a list of good practices to follow for any wearer of connected glasses is given, such as warning people around them to avoid using these devices. in places where people don’t expect it », or to obtain the consent of the people filmed if these users wish to use their images on social networks.
The authority carried out a survey in January 2026 on 2,128 people representative of the French population aged over 18: for 67% of respondents, connected glasses “ represent (well) a risk of invasion of privacy”. They “also reveal many apprehensions regarding these devices: distrust, discomfort, worry, even annoyance ».
Also read: “The Internet has become a prison of surveillance without bars or exit”, Shoshana Zuboff’s uncompromising analysis
👉🏻 Follow tech news in real time: add 01net to your sources on Google, and subscribe to our WhatsApp channel.
