The Kenyan authorities have begun investigating smart glasses, referred to as Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, after concerns emerged that they could be used to spy on people and misuse their data.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has initiated investigations into the use of smart glasses, even before the case is presented to the relevant authorities. The decision was made after The Oversight Lab, among other bodies, expressed concerns that the use of smart glasses could be a threat to the privacy of individuals.
The main reason why the use of smart glasses is a threat is the fact that they are designed to look like normal glasses, and one might not be aware that the glasses have the capacity to capture videos, thus invading an individual’s privacy.
This case was made more personal when an incident was reported in the streets of Nairobi, where a man was found using smart glasses to capture videos of women without their consent.
There are also concerns over the fate of the videos after they are recorded. There are allegations that the videos are being reviewed in Nairobi, and the personnel are expected to watch the sensitive videos. There are claims that this is being done without the consent from the people captured.
Mercy Mutemi, an individual from The Oversight Lab, while embracing the investigations, said the process must be an open one. “Kenyans want to know what is going on and be part of the conversation,” she said.
The glasses are a product of Ray-Ban and Meta. There are allegations that the data collected through the glasses could be used to develop artificial intelligence. There are questions over the use of the data collected through the glasses.
It is not only Kenya that is questioning the use of the glasses. Other countries have also started questioning the use of the glasses. The ODPC will give an update once the investigations are complete.