EDPB calls for clearer recording signals on smart glasses

On 13 October 2026, the European Data Protection Board adopted Statement 1/2026 on smart glasses, providing preliminary GDPR guidance for users, manufacturers and connected-service providers. It emphasises that people nearby may not realise they are being recorded.

Controller responsibilities depend on who determines the processing purposes and means. The household exemption is narrow and excludes professional use; manufacturers and service providers acting as controllers retain their own duties. The Board recommends noticeable recording signals alongside the required privacy information, because traditional notices alone may not reach bystanders.

For workplace privacy teams, the statement supports assessing controller roles, testing whether employees and visitors can recognise recording, and checking the legal basis for each use. Reuse such as AI training needs a case-specific assessment. This is interpretive guidance, and national recording and labour rules may also apply.