Brief
South Africa’s Information Regulator meets Meta over camera‑enabled smart glasses
The regulator said the meeting was not an endorsement and noted that the Protection of Personal Information Act could apply to recordings.
By Felo News Desk · Published
South Africa’s Information Regulator met with Meta Platforms in September to view the company’s camera‑recording smart glasses, TechCentral reported.
The regulator confirmed the meeting took place the same month Meta and eyewear partner EssilorLuxottica announced that Ray‑Ban Meta and Oakley Meta glasses would be sold in South Africa. It declined to disclose who attended or the specifics of the discussion.
In written responses, the regulator stressed that the meeting does not constitute an endorsement, approval, certification or authorisation of any product. It highlighted that the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) could apply where recordings capture identifiable individuals, as the act’s definition of “processing” includes collection, storage and dissemination of personal data.
The regulator noted that no single law currently governs such devices, but existing legislation – including POPIA, privacy, surveillance and interception statutes – may be relevant. When asked whether the existing framework is sufficient to police the glasses in public spaces, the regulator gave a non‑committal answer, saying the current legal framework may be capable of addressing harmful conduct involving recording devices.
Meta did not respond to TechCentral’s request for details on the meeting participants or agenda at the time of publication.
Key facts
- The Information Regulator met Meta in September to see its camera‑recording smart glasses. (techcentral.co.za)
- The regulator said the meeting does not constitute an endorsement of the product. (techcentral.co.za)
- POPIA could apply to recordings that capture identifiable individuals. (techcentral.co.za)
- No single law specifically regulates smart glasses, but existing privacy and surveillance statutes may be relevant. (techcentral.co.za)
Sources
- [1] techcentral.co.za — originally reported as “Meta met Information Regulator over its camera glasses”
