The state government has announced a ban on smart glasses in Western Australian public schools.
Capable of secretly recording images and video, the devices will be prohibited from the first day of term four under what is being dubbed the nation’s “most comprehensive ban”.
The restrictions will apply to students, staff, parents, carers, and visitors and will include all school activities both on and off campus.
Principals can grant exemptions for students with specific circumstances, such as medical conditions.
Education Minister Sabine Winton labelled the decision “common sense”.
“This ban is about taking a common sense, preventative approach,” she said.
“We know that smart glasses are becoming more accessible and can have a detrimental impact on people’s privacy and wellbeing.
“Students should be able to focus on learning, and teachers should be able to do their jobs without worrying they are being secretly recorded.”
Minister Winton added that boundaries were necessary to ensure technology remains a “great asset to teaching and learning”.
