Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with the Information Commissioners' Office on the impact of camera-enabled smart glasses on privacy.

The Government recognises that camera-enabled smart glasses and similar wearable technologies can raise privacy considerations.

My department engages regularly with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK's independent data protection regulator, on data protection and privacy matters, including the impact of emerging technologies.

The ICO has recently published guidance on how Internet of Things products and services, such as smart glasses and similar products, can process data of consumers fairly and transparently. It has also discussed the privacy implications of smart glasses with international counterparts through the G7 Data Protection and Privacy Authorities Roundtable. The Government will continue to monitor this area closely.