Australia probes app used in cheap smart glasses over privacy fears

Australia is investigating how and where the firm behind an app used in popular low-cost smart glasses collects and stores personal data, the country’s data protection watchdog said on Oct 7.



China-based Shenzhen Qingcheng is the maker of the HeyCyan smart glasses app, used in the Anko smart glasses sold for as little as A$89 (S$79) at shops like K-mart across Australia.



Australia’s Information Commissioner (OAIC) said it had sent preliminary inquiries to several companies involved in making the glasses in September – including Meta, Kmart, Google and Shenzhen Qingcheng – about how they recorded data and where it was stored.



Smart glasses let wearers take photos, film videos, listen to music, make phone calls, translate text or interact with an AI assistant.



Calls have grown for action against what campaigners call “pervert” smart glasses after secretly filmed footage of girls and women has appeared online.