Police are currently looking into videos that purportedly show individuals from the general public being recorded without their knowledge using Meta smart glasses.
An individual named Scott Margerison is under investigation after online footage surfaced, suggesting that members of the public, store employees, and ferry workers were being filmed surreptitiously during a trip across Scotland. Reports received by Police Scotland prompted an evaluation of videos shared by the 42-year-old from Rochdale to determine if any criminal activities had occurred.
A representative from Police Scotland confirmed awareness of the posted videos and stated that they are examining the content. Scott, who goes by the alias E Dobbin on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, uploaded a series of clips documenting his travels across Scotland in late June and early July.
The videos showed Scott engaging with members of the public while wearing Meta’s smart glasses, which included interactions with a Sikh shopkeeper, making inappropriate remarks about young women, and recording aboard a CalMac ferry. In one instance, Scott conversed with a Sikh shopkeeper of Indian descent in Skye, discussing topics like “forced” diversity and the Kalergi Plan, a far-right conspiracy theory.
The woman, managing the shop with her teenage daughter, responded to Scott’s comments as “slightly derogatory.” She expressed feeling intimidated during the encounter and was upset upon discovering a secretly recorded video of the interaction on TikTok.
In another video, Scott made inappropriate comments about teenagers on a CalMac ferry before speaking to them and their parents without their knowledge of being filmed. The legality of filming individuals using AI smart glasses hinges on various factors, such as privacy expectations, harassment, stalking, and causing fear or alarm.
Concerns surrounding the use of AI smart glasses have escalated, with incidents of potential privacy violations and misuse. The controversy has drawn criticism from various individuals and groups, highlighting the need for clear regulations regarding the use of such technology.
Singer Lorde also voiced disapproval of the glasses during a performance, urging against their adoption. The ongoing debate underscores the importance of addressing privacy and ethical considerations in the use of advanced technologies like AI smart glasses.