Paris Prosecutors Investigate AI Smart Glasses Over Covert Filming and Sexual Harassment Claims

Paris prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into allegations that AI smart glasses were used for covert street filming and sexual harassment. Additionally, France's data protection agency (CNIL) has received workplace complaints, prompting inquiries from companies seeking to ban the devices on their premises. The investigation highlights growing legal and privacy tensions surrounding consumer wearable tech equipped with discrete cameras. As sales of smart glasses surge globally, regulatory authorities are evaluating how frameworks like GDPR and the EU AI Act can enforce public consent and prevent illegal surveillance. The Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit conducted hands-on testing of smart glasses to evaluate their use in illegal acts under French law, which penalizes non-consensual recording in private settings with up to one year in prison or a €45,000 fine. The CNIL emphasized key technical and regulatory hurdles, specifically the difficulty of notifying bystanders when recording is active and obtaining valid legal consent.