The Australian privacy regulator has initiated an investigation into Shenzhen Qingcheng, the company responsible for the HeyCyan app used in Kmart’s $89 smartglasses. This decision follows significant public backlash regarding the covert use of these devices.
Background
In August, Guardian Australia reported that Kmart had sold out of the Anko-branded discount version of Meta’s smartglasses, which are capable of capturing images and recording high-definition video. This led to widespread concern and calls for a ban or restriction on their use. A GetUp petition has garnered over 55,000 signatures, urging limitations on what has been labeled as "pervert glasses." Local councils across the country are also considering bans on the glasses in public spaces, including swimming pools, while the federal government is contemplating restrictions in government workplaces.
Investigation Details
Carly Kind, the Australian privacy commissioner, was tasked by the attorney general to evaluate the privacy implications of the smartglasses. She reached out to Kmart, BDI Technology, and Shenzhen Qingcheng, as well as Meta and Google, which is developing its own smartglasses. In a blog post on Wednesday, Kind announced the opening of an investigation into Shenzhen Qingcheng due to its failure to respond to inquiries, alongside concerns raised from third-party analyses of the technology and the entity's privacy policy.
