Government does not (yet) want a total ban on camera glasses
The government believes a nationwide ban on camera glasses would go too far for now, despite the privacy risks of covert filming. Event organizers can, however, include a ban in their own house rules.
No nationwide ban, but attention to privacy risks
For now, the government sees no need for a comprehensive legal ban on camera glasses, such as smart glasses with a built-in camera. According to the government, that would go too far. This position emerged from reporting by NU.nl. The available information does not specify which minister or official formulated this position on behalf of the government, nor is the exact context — for example, parliamentary questions or a motion that prompted this response — known.
Camera glasses, such as models resembling the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, are gaining popularity. They look like ordinary sunglasses or regular glasses, but can covertly take photos and videos of their surroundings. This makes them appealing to consumers, but also raises questions about privacy.
Risk of covert filming acknowledged
The government acknowledges that the glasses can record footage of people without their consent. According to the government, this can lead to undesirable situations. Even so, this risk is not, for the time being, a reason for the government to ban the devices nationwide.
The reasoning appears to be that a total ban would be too drastic a measure for a technology that also has legitimate uses, such as personal photography or hands-free recording. A complete ban would therefore also affect consumers who use the glasses without any ill intent.
House rules as an alternative
Instead of a legal ban, the government points to an alternative: event organizers can decide for themselves whether camera glasses are allowed, by including this in their house rules. This shifts responsibility from the national legislator to the organization managing an event, venue, or space.
This means that concert halls, museums, sports clubs, or other organizers will be able to choose to prohibit camera glasses themselves, for example to protect visitors' privacy or to prevent unauthorized recordings of performances and shows. A nationwide, uniform regulation is therefore still lacking for now.
A provisional position, not definitive policy
The government emphasizes that this is a provisional position. This leaves open the possibility that the discussion about camera glasses could resurface at a later point, for instance if the use of these devices increases further or if more incidents involving covert recordings come to light.
Based on the available information, nothing is known about the role of regulators such as the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens), or about similar discussions in other European countries. It is also unclear whether there are already concrete plans to revisit the regulations surrounding camera glasses at a later date.
Conclusion
For now, it remains up to event organizers, businesses, and institutions themselves to decide whether they allow camera glasses on their premises. There is no nationwide ban, and the government is, for the time being, tipping the balance between privacy protection and technological freedom in favor of the latter.