Canterbury-Bankstown Council bans smart glasses from pools and leisure centres
Canterbury-Bankstown Council voted to ban AI smart glasses from its public pools and leisure centres on Tuesday evening.
Council votes to prohibit devices
Councillors unanimously passed a motion banning the wearable technology from five council-operated aquatic and leisure facilities. Lord Mayor Bilal El-Hayek described the move as a response to community anger regarding potential misuse of the equipment. The ban adds smart glasses to existing prohibition signage that already covers unauthorised photography and recording.
Mayor cites safety concerns
El-Hayek stated that chat groups and social media platforms show women venting fears about predators exploiting the new technology. He noted reports of people secretly filming in change rooms, swimming pools, and around schools without consent. The mayor warned that these devices can scan faces and access personal information while recording video.
Staff enforcement powers expand
The new rules allow staff to eject individuals wearing smart glasses from the local government area facilities immediately. This action strengthens current entry conditions which previously prohibited unauthorised recording but did not explicitly name the devices. Councillors acknowledged questions about how workers might distinguish standard eyewear from smart glasses during enforcement.
All 2 outlets report consistently
No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.
- The Guardian
- ABC News Australia
Reported by
2 independent outlets. Headlines as published. Links open the original report.