According to The Guardian, Kmart’s $89 Anko smart glasses have recently sold out across stores and online nationwide. The product has a similar design to Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, but costs only around a quarter of the price. It can take photos, record high-definition videos, play music, make phone calls, use an AI assistant, and transfer photos and videos, attracting many consumers.
However, the product’s popularity has also raised privacy concerns. Digital rights organisation Digital Rights Watch warned that smart glasses with built-in cameras could allow people to be recorded without their knowledge. The organisation said Australia’s current privacy laws have not kept pace with technological developments, particularly with concerns that smart glasses could be misused for secret filming or harassment.
Similar concerns emerged after Meta launched its smart glasses. Some users were accused of secretly recording members of the public and uploading videos involving other people’s privacy. Meta later updated its systems to prevent users from covering the recording indicator light and removed some videos involving harassment.
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner said it was aware of public concerns and was closely monitoring the growing use of smart glasses. It reminded companies that collect and use personal data they must comply with the Privacy Act and Australian Privacy Principles. Kmart responded that Anko smart glasses are part of a growing global trend in wearable technology and encouraged consumers to follow the law, respect others’ privacy, and use the product responsibly.
Commentary:
The popularity of Kmart’s affordable smart glasses reflects how AI-powered wearable devices are gradually becoming part of everyday life. While technology brings convenience, it also makes privacy risks harder to detect. The issue may not necessarily be the product itself, but whether existing laws, platform regulations, and social norms are prepared to deal with these emerging technologies.
When recording functions can be hidden inside everyday items such as glasses, people may not know whether they are being filmed, increasing risks of secret recording, harassment, or even fraud.
Rather than relying solely on individual responsibility, governments need to review whether current privacy laws provide sufficient protection. Technology companies should also establish stronger safety mechanisms and usage guidelines, such as making recording indicators more visible and preventing misuse, while balancing technological innovation, personal privacy protection, and public trust.