Helsinki residents worry about secret filming with smart glasses

Helsinki's optical shops are now selling smart glasses that embed small cameras into their frames, raising concerns about discreet surveillance. These devices, priced between 400 and 550 euros, allow users to record video, take photos, listen to music, make calls, and utilize AI assistants, all controlled by voice commands.

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Since the glasses are always on your face, you don't need to dig out your phone. It frees your hands.

Sales representatives report daily inquiries about the glasses, though not all lead to purchases. The primary buyers are described as young adults, working individuals, travelers, and tech enthusiasts, with a slight male skew. For many, these are less traditional eyewear and more wearable technology, with some users not even opting for prescription lenses.

Hanna Airio, chief selection officer at Silmäasema, notes that smart glasses and similar trends arrive in Finland via the capital region. The camera feature is a significant draw, enabling spontaneous recording, such as capturing a child's first steps without needing to retrieve a phone. "Since the glasses are always on your face, you don't need to dig out your phone. It frees your hands," Airio explains.

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Then you'd have to check the glasses too.

However, the discreet nature of the cameras is causing unease. Teacher Kirsi Kangaspunta highlights concerns within the educational sector, where schools are already contemplating how to monitor exams and standardized tests if students can wear cameras and AI assistants on their faces. "Then you'd have to check the glasses too," Kangaspunta says, disturbed by the possibility of being recorded without knowing. Miro Kauppinen, a customer at Synsam, saw potential for innocent use, like recording nature scenes without a phone, but also pondered the discomfort of being unknowingly filmed by a stranger's glasses.

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It would be unpleasant, wouldn't it? You'd probably think, should you take those glasses off.