Western Australian Senator Fatima Payman has called for a temporary ban on smart glasses until the federal government tightens artificial intelligence (AI) regulations.
Hear from Senator Payman.
The call comes after Kmart released an affordable alternative to Meta’s Ray-Bans in August, offering ‘Anko’-branded ‘camera glasses’ for $89. Both products allow users to record videos, take photos, listen to music and make phone calls.
Speaking to Youth Jam’s Isaac Mulcrone, Senator Payman criticised the Albanese government for failing to take a proactive stance on the technology.
“[The government is] very behind in actually understanding the technology and that’s why I don’t understand why they closed down the AI advisory board that they spent thousands of dollars putting together,” she told Newsflash listeners.
“They don’t understand this technology, they don’t understand how fast this is evolving and growing and at the speed that all these variations are popping out, left, right and centre and yet they won’t listen to the experts.”
Photo: ABC
Arguing that stronger oversight is essential, Payman suggested that retailers like Kmart be temporarily prohibited from selling such devices until an AI regulatory framework is in place.
“Until it’s regulated I don’t think it’s useful to have them so readily available. The regulations need to come in place, but until then what are we going to do? Are we just going to let people go ahead and film their neighbours in the bathroom or in the shower? That’s just not ok,” she said.
Despite proposing an interim ban, Senator Payman clarified that she opposes a permanent blanket ban.
“I’m not a fan of banning anything, because I don’t think blanket bans ever work… Each person to their own, they can have these glasses if they want… As long as it’s well regulated, so we protect the privacy of other people and we need to have respect for other people’s privacy.”
Photo L: Science & Technology Australia
