Smart glasses banned at Canterbury-Bankstown Leisure & Aquatic Centres
ARAB NEWS ( Canterbury Bankstown- Australia )The City of Canterbury Bankstown has become the first council in New South Wales to ban smart glasses at its leisure and aquatic centres.
Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said the decision was driven by growing community concerns about the potential misuse of smart glasses in places where families should feel safe and protected.
“The safety and privacy of our community, particularly children and young people, must always come first,” Mayor El-Hayek said.
“Mums are telling me they want very clear guidelines to protect their children from preying predators.
“Smart glasses are an emerging technology, and I had no hesitation in ensuring there are appropriate guidelines in place at our local pools to stop their misuse.”
The ban strengthens existing conditions of entry, which already prohibit unauthorised photography and recording, by classifying AI-enabled smart glasses as “prohibited recording devices” unless they are used for accessibility purposes.
Mayor El-Hayek said the ban was not about opposing technology, but ensuring it is used appropriately in environments where privacy and safety are paramount.
“Smart glasses can be incredibly useful, they can help people with accessibility needs and support people with their jobs or daily lives,” Mayor El-Hayek said.
“The issue isn’t the technology itself, it’s ensuring it is used responsibly in places where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
“People visiting our pools should not have to worry about being secretly filmed or photographed without their knowledge or consent.”
Residents who rely on smart glasses as assistive technology can continue to access facilities, so long as they identify themselves on entry.
The new ban was unanimously supported at Tuesday night’s Council meeting and will apply across all Council-operated leisure and aquatic facilities. It reinforces the City of Canterbury Bankstown’s commitment to maintaining safe, respectful and family-friendly environments for its community.