Innsbruck mayor sparks criticism with AI smart glasses

Innsbruck Mayor Johannes Anzengruber has ignited a debate by frequently wearing an AI-powered smart glasses device, prompting criticism from opposition parties and privacy experts.

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The glasses are primarily worn by me for relief and protection of my eyes. Furthermore, I can make calls with them and have incoming messages read to me.

The KPÖ and the Alternative List Innsbruck (ALi) have submitted an urgent inquiry regarding the mayor's use of the glasses. They expressed concerns about data privacy, with legal expert Matthias Kettemann from the University of Innsbruck describing the situation as sending an "unsettling signal." Kettemann noted that citizens might feel monitored during conversations with the mayor, which he deems highly problematic.

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During conversations, meetings, and citizen contact, neither photos nor videos are recorded with them. A recording would have to be deliberately started and would be recognizable to everyone present by a visible light signal.

Anzengruber, however, defended his use of the technology, explaining on Facebook that the glasses are primarily worn to relieve and protect his eyes. He also stated that they enable him to make calls and have incoming messages read aloud. Crucially, he assured that no photos or videos are recorded during conversations, meetings, or interactions with citizens, emphasizing that any recording would require a deliberate manual start and be indicated by a visible light signal.

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Less a legal problem than a problem of unsettling engagement with digital tools.

Despite the mayor's assurances, Kettemann pointed out that the small light signal on the glasses might not always be visible, especially in certain lighting conditions or at a distance. He questioned the practical benefit of such a device in a political context, suggesting that the core issue is not necessarily a legal problem but rather an "unsettling way of dealing with digital tools."

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That citizens could also feel monitored in conversation with the mayor is highly problematic.