Smart glasses: Would you be comfortable being filmed on a group ride?

A recent opinion piece we spotted over at Cycling Weekly got us thinking about an interesting question for cyclists as camera-equipped smart glasses become increasingly common: when does filming on a bike ride become an issue of privacy and consent?

Models such as Oakley’s Meta Vanguard are becoming more accessible, making it easier than ever to record your ride without a traditional camera mounted to your bike or helmet.

Unlike, say, a GoPro mounted to a helmet or handlebars, there’s often no large, obvious camera sitting in plain sight. And while the glasses do have a small front-facing LED that indicates when they’re recording, it could easily go unnoticed by someone riding alongside you.

Here at home, concerns about the controversial technology are growing well beyond cycling.

One of Sydney’s largest councils, Canterbury-Bankstown, has become the latest to ban AI smart glasses at its public pools, joining Brisbane City Council and Melbourne’s City of Yarra.

Councillors voted overwhelmingly for the ban this week, with mayor Bilal El-Hayek referring to the devices as “pervert glasses”, amid concerns about people being secretly filmed in pools, change rooms and around schools.

Brisbane’s rules cover all 21 of its public pools and prohibit the non-consensual use of recording devices, including smart glasses, phones and action cameras.

Yarra has gone further, banning camera-equipped glasses from its pools, gyms, playgrounds and childcare centres, while calling on the federal government to strengthen privacy laws.

At the same time, a ban on smart glasses capable of covertly recording people is now being considered for Commonwealth buildings amid concerns about the technology’s privacy and security risks.

So, it’s fair to say there’s growing concern about the rise of this technology.

But what about cyclists, who may find it genuinely useful?

After all, wearing smart glasses on a bike ride isn’t inherently problematic. Their cameras can be extremely useful for documenting dangerous driving, crashes or simply capturing a memorable day on the bike.

But what about the people riding around you?

If you’re chatting to a mate in a bunch, do you have an expectation that the conversation isn’t being recorded? Does it matter if the footage stays private, or does the situation change when it’s uploaded to Instagram, Facebook or YouTube?

And if you’re wearing camera-equipped glasses on a group ride, should you be telling everyone beforehand?

As this technology becomes cheaper and more widespread, these are questions cycling groups may need to start considering.

So, what do you think? Would you be comfortable riding in a group with someone wearing camera-equipped smart glasses, or should riders ask permission before filming?