Brisbane’s Smart‑Glasses Ban: What It Means for Anyone Using Public Pools

Last week Brisbane City Council became the first Australian council to ban the use of smart glasses at public swimming pools. The new rule adds a condition of entry that prohibits any camera‑enabled device without the consent of those being filmed, and gives lifeguards the authority to remove anyone who breaches it.

The ban is backed by Section 227A of the Queensland Criminal Code, which makes it illegal to record a person without consent in situations where a reasonable adult would expect privacy – such as in a pool’s change rooms or while swimming.

Legal scholar Elizabeth Englezos, a lecturer at Griffith University’s school of law, called the council’s approach “a clever idea” but warned that effective protection will require state or federal legislation. She added that it is hard to know when someone is wearing smart glasses, so local bans alone may not stop covert recording.

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner has advised manufacturers to include automatic face‑blurring and clear visual indicators that a device is recording. These measures are intended to reduce the risk of accidental or hidden filming.

At the national level, the federal Labor government rejected a proposal to ban the import of smart glasses. Attorney‑General Michelle Rowland said the current privacy‑law consultation does not cover import restrictions, but the government is not ruling out other actions and encourages councils to consider where such devices might be used.

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