The Albanese government is considering a ban on smart glasses within its offices and service centres. This move comes as councils across Australia have begun restricting the technology in public spaces due to privacy concerns.
Katy Gallagher, the public service minister, stated on Thursday that she has sought advice from the Australian public service regarding a potential prohibition of the glasses. She highlighted that smart glasses can raise "legitimate privacy and security concerns" because of their ability to record and capture information.
Commonwealth-run workplaces include bureaucratic offices, Centrelink service centres, and CSIRO laboratories. The government has previously encouraged individual workplaces to establish their own rules regarding the camera-equipped technology, rather than implementing a widespread import ban.
The Albanese government aims to establish a "world-leading" standard, noting that no national government has yet banned the use of smart glasses across its agencies. This consideration follows recent guidance issued last week on the use of AI in the public service.