Paris Prosecutors Launch Smart Glasses Harassment Investigation

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Paris Prosecutors Launch Smart Glasses Harassment Investigation

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Paris, France – French authorities are increasing their scrutiny of smart glasses following the opening of a criminal investigation by the Paris prosecutor’s office into alleged sexual harassment. The probe stems from complaints related to a social media trend where individuals reportedly use smart glasses to film women in public without their consent and then post the videos online. While the specific brand of smart glasses involved has not been publicly identified by prosecutors, devices like those from Meta, developed in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, are prominent in the market, with Meta holding an estimated 76% global market share.

These AI-enabled glasses, which feature a small embedded camera allowing for discreet recording, sold 7 million units last year, with Essilor’s latest sales figures indicating “exponential growth” in 2026. However, this success has also led to increasing international attention from prosecutors, regulators, and rights groups regarding potential issues such as sexual harassment, corporate misconduct, and illicit surveillance.

France’s data protection authority, CNIL, has also reported receiving a small number of complaints—fewer than 10—concerning the use of smart glasses in the workplace. Additionally, businesses are increasingly contacting CNIL to inquire about their ability to ban these devices at work. French law includes provisions for privacy protection, with penalties of up to a year in prison or a €45,000 fine for recording a person’s image in a private place without consent. However, enforcing these regulations can be challenging, especially with the rapid dissemination of content online. The Paris prosecutor’s cybercrime unit tested smart glasses two weeks ago to better understand the potential crimes that could be committed using the devices.

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