Sydney Council Bans Smart Glasses Following Victorian Precedents

The decision to restrict the wearable technology comes amid what has been described as growing public anger surrounding the devices. Smart glasses, which can capture video and audio without the obvious physical cues of a smartphone or traditional camera, have increasingly drawn scrutiny when worn in public spaces and municipal facilities.

While Canterbury-Bankstown is the first council in Sydney to enact a total prohibition, the regulatory pathway has already been established in other parts of the country. Several local government authorities in Victoria and Queensland have previously moved to restrict the devices. These earlier bans have typically targeted council-managed properties where residents have a higher expectation of personal space, such as local library branches, customer service centres and public pool changerooms.

At this stage, specific details regarding how the new ban will be enforced by Canterbury-Bankstown staff remain unconfirmed. It is not yet clear what penalties or fines might apply to individuals found breaching the policy, nor is it known how local officials plan to identify the increasingly discreet technology, which often resembles standard prescription eyewear.

Watch for whether other metropolitan councils across New South Wales will follow Canterbury-Bankstown's lead in drafting similar prohibitions as wearable recording devices become more commercially accessible.