Smart glasses in sights of Fringe venue, Adelaide City Council

An Adelaide councillor wants an investigation into banning or restricting smart glasses in parts of the city, amid concerns about people being recorded without their consent.

The call comes amid growing national debate, with a prominent Adelaide Fringe venue also signalling potential support for a ban, and the SA Greens pushing for the technology to be outlawed in settings including schools and playgrounds.

Adelaide city councillor Phillip Martin will put forward a motion next week for an investigation into restrictions on glasses with built-in cameras in places like the parklands, libraries and meeting halls.

"With smart glasses you have no idea somebody could be simply looking at you but recording your every action," Cr Martin told ABC News.

He is particularly concerned about women and children being subjected to covert recording.

"I am aware from reports to the eSafety Commissioner of men approaching women, asking them for a date, recording the response, and then using that response on social media as a dating tip," he said.

"Children have a right to play within playgrounds, parklands and other areas without the threat of being recorded without their knowledge or without their parents' or guardians' consent."

The councillor's calls come a week after Yarra City Council banned smart glasses in their playgrounds, childcare centres and gyms.

In August, Brisbane City Council announced a blanket ban on the non-consensual use of all camera-enabled devices, including wearable technology, phones, and action cameras.

Those steps have in turn followed a drop in the cost of the devices, which have risen in popularity after cheaper options hit the shelves.

Smart glasses have been around for several years, with Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses costing as much as $700.

But some Meta smart glasses retail for significantly less than that, and Kmart Australia has been selling its own alternative for $89.

The ABC has contacted Meta and Wesfarmers — which owns Kmart — for comment, but they did not respond.

Fringe venue Gluttony has flagged a potential ban.

"If someone's got their toddler running around Gluttony while they're having something to eat, they don't exactly want some guy filming them clandestinely," co-director Daniel Michael told 891 ABC Adelaide.

"A burlesque show, for example, might have rules around filming in the show for good reason.

"You can't allow people to bring guns and knives … so it's just about adding to that list to say, 'Look this is something that is not allowed here'."

AI smart glasses are not without reported social benefits, and have proved transformative for blind or low-vision users in helping them identify objects and read labels.

"What I would ask people to do before they make these decisions is to consult ... around the positive aspects of these glasses," chair of the See Differently Client Advisory Committee, Michael Hutchinson, said.

"I really worry about the fact that people are calling these 'pervert glasses'.

"To have an individual cafe or a group say we're just going to ban the glasses - I would be very sad if that happens."

SA Greens MP Robert Simms will introduce a bill to state parliament next month to ban smart glasses at "schools, childcare centres, playgrounds, swimming pools and gyms" but said it was important to include exemptions for disability aides.

'Stop the supply'

Last month, the federal government said it was not currently considering an import ban on smart glasses but said the devices could be restricted by local councils.

SA's Local Government Association (LGA) said while the devices had some legitimate uses, they raised privacy concerns.

"Development and adoption of the technology is outpacing existing regulations," an LGA spokesperson said.

"It's a complex conversation and we welcome engagement with state and federal governments about establishing one set of clear, consistent rules that get the balance right."

Cr Martin said conducting an investigation before implementing a ban would guide the best approach.

"There must be a way of determining what are legitimate glasses or spectacles, what are smart glasses, and when it is appropriate for smart glasses to be used," he said.

Cr Martin's proposed investigation has the support of several other councillors, including Eleanor Freeman, who said the council should examine the outcomes of the moves "to restrict AI glasses in Melbourne and Brisbane".

Adelaide University cyber governance expert Mohiuddin Ahmed said smart glasses had legitimate applications, but said using them around others without their consent amounted to a significant "violation of privacy".

He said there was a need to ensure the technology did not fall into the hands of paedophiles and those "with a history of violence against women and children".

"If it's used for the wrong reasons, for malicious purposes, obviously banning these glasses would deter this type of criminal activity," Dr Ahmed said.

"If there is a general recall Australia-wide, it could work."

He said bans would not be without enforcement challenges.

"If you really want to stop this, stop the supply. Cut it from the neck," he said.