France opens investigation into sexual harassment involving smart glasses

Authorities have launched a criminal investigation in the French capital Paris into suspected sexual harassment allegedly committed using smart glasses.

According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the investigation was opened following complaints that women had been secretly filmed in the street and that the footage had been shared on social media without their consent. The incidents are believed to be linked to a trend spreading across social media.

The prosecutor’s office did not disclose the brand of the device involved. However, it said the cybercrime unit had tested smart glasses two weeks earlier and examined what types of violations the devices could facilitate.

Smart glasses equipped with cameras and other connected functions are increasingly available on the market. While they can be used for communication, navigation and recording, privacy experts and regulators have warned that discreet filming in public places may create serious legal and ethical risks, particularly when images are distributed without consent.