Smart glasses make capturing images and sound more discreet: there is no longer any need to take out your phone to record. This discretion can make abusive uses easier, especially when someone films a person without their knowledge.
Investigations under way
On 18 September 2026, the Paris prosecutor’s office opened investigations after complaints about alleged sexual harassment involving smart glasses. Women were reportedly filmed in the street without their consent, before videos were shared online. The CNIL also said it had received nearly ten complaints about abusive use of these devices in the workplace. These cases are under investigation: no conviction has been established at this stage.
What the law says
Under French law, article 226-1 of the Criminal Code punishes with one year in prison and a €45,000 fine the capture, recording or transmission, without consent, of the image of a person in a private place. When the images are sexual in nature and shared without consent, article 226-2-1 can provide for up to two years in prison and a €60,000 fine.
The street, however, is a public place: not every recording in public space automatically falls under article 226-1. The criminal classification depends on the facts, the content, the sharing and the circumstances.
What the CNIL recommends
The CNIL recommends informing the people around you when the glasses are in use, switching off recording functions as soon as they are no longer needed, and obtaining people’s consent before publishing a photo or video on social networks.