Wearable item banned at Brisbane pools
Brisbane City Council has banned a wearable high-tech device at its public pools, as concerns grow children are being secretly recorded.
Smart glasses will be banned from Brisbane’s public pools amid growing fears the hi-tech devices are being used to secretly record children.
Brisbane City Council announced all camera-enabled and recording devices — from mobile phones and action cameras, to increasingly discreet wearable technology like smart glasses —will be banned from filming anyone without consent at council’s 21 public pools.
The strengthened rules will give pool staff clear authority to act where recording devices are being used without prior approval.
The change means there will be no grey area around covertly filming adults or children, particularly in change rooms, as smart glasses cause growing concerns and spark safety warnings across Australia.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said recent concerns about smart glasses were making people think more about their privacy.
“Families should be able to enjoy their local pool without worrying that someone might be secretly filming them or their children,” Schrinner said. “We’re making the rules crystal clear about when cameras and recording devices can be used at our pools.”
The privacy crackdown comes as smart glasses, which can record and take photos, become more accessible and increasingly cheaper. They can often be indistinguishable from ordinary eyewear.
The Federal Government recently asked the Australian Privacy Commissioner to examine the privacy and safety risks posed by smart glasses.
Head of Policy at Digital Rights Watch Tom Sulston applauded Brisbane City Council for its positive action around smart glasses.
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“It’s vital that councils across Australia ensure that public spaces like swimming pools are safe for families to enjoy without the threat of unwanted video surveillance,” Sulston said.
“We look forward to seeing not just councils following Brisbane’s lead, but also state and federal governments.”
Following a record year of attendance at more than 758,000 visits, the new signage and conditions of entry are expected to be progressively rolled out across Brisbane’s public pools in the coming weeks.
Luke Twyford, Principal Commissioner of the Queensland Family and Child Commission said child harm and abuse can be hard to recognise and that all organisations should be safe for children and prevent exploitation.
“I’m really glad to see Brisbane City Council considering its role in making Queensland a safe place and taking steps to reduce foreseeable risks. This is what the Child Safe Standards and the community expects.”
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