UNAUTHORIZED RECORDING, USE OF SMART CAMERA GLASSES IN STORES
The New York State Office of Court Administration has announced that, effective 20 July 2026, smart glasses equipped with recording technology, such as cameras or microphones, as well as other wearable devices capable of recording audio or video, will no longer be permitted inside court buildings.
The regulation, published on 1 July 2026, applies to everyone entering court premises, including litigants, attorneys, witnesses, visitors, and court personnel. The prohibition is based not on the brand or model of the device, but on whether it possesses recording capabilities. We also note that the regulation includes an informative notice sign to be used at court houses warning the related parties that smart glasses equipped with recording technology shall not be allowed in courthouses.
Individuals arriving at a courthouse with such a device will be required to surrender it to security personnel upon entry and may retrieve it when leaving the building. Those who refuse to do so will not be permitted to enter.
No exception has been made for prescription smart glasses. The court administration has therefore advised users of such devices to bring a conventional pair of prescription glasses without recording or other smart features.
According to the Office of Court Administration, the measure is intended to prevent the covert recording of hearings and judicial proceedings and will apply across more than 1,240 court facilities throughout New York State.
Besides, the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) has published an informational guidance on wearable devices. The guidance addresses the data protection risks associated with wearable technologies, including smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart glasses. It provides practical recommendations under various headings, including the types of personal data processed through such devices, considerations before purchasing a device, measures that can be taken during use to enhance privacy, issues relating to children’s personal data, the processing of third parties’ personal data, and the specific privacy implications of smart glasses.
Similarly, the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY) has issued guidance on the use of smart glasses. According to the guidance, recording through smart glasses should be assessed in much the same way as recording with a mobile phone camera. However, even when no recording is taking place, the presence of smart glasses may cause discomfort or uncertainty among those nearby. The authority also notes that, due to their advanced microphones, such devices may inadvertently capture background conversations. Furthermore, there is a risk that images and other data collected through smart glasses may be accessed by unauthorized third parties. In certain circumstances, recording or sharing such recordings may constitute a criminal offence. In addition, where images of other individuals are shared online or smart glasses are used for commercial purposes, the obligations arising under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) may apply. The guidance also reminds users that the use of smart glasses may be prohibited in certain locations.
Considering the increasing legal risks associated with unauthorized audio and video recordings, as well as the widespread use of smart wearable devices, similar regulatory approaches may become more common in other jurisdictions.
In Türkiye, the unauthorized use of such devices may raise significant legal issues under the Law on the Protection of Personal Data (KVKK), civil law, labour law, and, depending on the circumstances, criminal law.
As wearable technologies become more sophisticated and prevalent, it is reasonable to expect that public authorities and private institutionswill increasingly adopt rules restricting or regulating their use in order to safeguard privacy, personal data, trade secrets.
Our Law Firm remains at your disposal for any legal assistance needed for the issuance of the Informative Note addressed to the store staff and the customers.
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