Renew MEPs Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Abir Al-Sahlani and Yvan Verougstraete have asked the European Commission to assess whether AI-enabled smart glasses and wearable recording devices comply with EU data protection and privacy laws, and whether additional guidance is needed to protect women from non-consensual recording and harassment.
The parliamentary question, submitted on 5 June 2026, follows media reports of women being unknowingly filmed in public spaces by such devices, with images potentially shared online. The MEPs note that while the General Data Protection Regulation and the AI Act provide safeguards, practical application to consumer AI wearables may require further clarification.
first, an assessment of the compatibility of AI-enabled smart glasses with current EU data protection, privacy and consumer protection legislation; second, an evaluation of the impact on women, including risks of gender-based harassment and the chilling effect on women's participation in public spaces; third, a call for the Commission to issue guidance, in cooperation with the European Data Protection Board, on the use of such devices and the processing of data from non-users.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. The answer will signal whether the EU executive sees a need for new rules or considers existing legislation sufficient to address the privacy and safety challenges posed by rapidly evolving wearable AI technology.