The Albanese government is weighing a ban on smart glasses in its offices and service centres, citing privacy and security risks associated with the devices’ recording capabilities.

Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher announced on Thursday that she has asked the Australian Public Service for advice on whether the glasses should be prohibited in Commonwealth workplaces, which include bureaucratic offices, Centrelink service centres and CSIRO laboratories. The proposal does not extend to a nationwide import ban; instead, individual workplaces would be encouraged to adopt their own rules.

Gallagher emphasized the need for consistent guidance, noting that smart glasses can capture and store information in ways that raise legitimate concerns. While state‑run schools and hospitals would retain authority to set their own policies, several local councils have already moved to restrict the technology in public facilities. A University of Sydney study found that 60 % of sampled Instagram videos filmed with smart glasses could be classified as potential harassment.

No national government has yet imposed a comprehensive ban on the devices across all agencies. Courts in England and Wales, as well as New York state, have prohibited their use, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has classified them as body‑worn cameras, restricting them from federal workspaces. In Australia, a Sydney council recently barred the glasses from public pools, describing them as “pervert glasses,” and Brisbane city council followed suit in August. Melbourne’s Yarra council has extended the restriction to playgrounds, childcare centres and gyms.

The federal attorney general, Michelle Rowland, praised these local actions and indicated she would consult businesses on their approaches. Rowland highlighted that good privacy practices benefit business, while stressing the importance of balancing privacy protections with inclusion for people who rely on the technology, such as those who are blind or have low vision.

Vision Australia and other advocacy groups have praised smart glasses as a supportive tool for people with visual impairments. The government has not pursued an outright ban but has not ruled out future restrictions. Gallagher said she wants the Australian Public Service to serve as a “model employer” by adopting policies that keep pace with rapid technological change.

The proposed restrictions would mark the latest workplace technology reform for the federal government, following recent guidance on artificial intelligence use in the public service. A roundtable on Friday will bring together major companies — including Commonwealth Bank, Microsoft, AGL, Telstra, Kmart, Blackmores Group and Ramsay Health Care — to contribute to new national AI guidelines. Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth said the meeting aims to learn from businesses already implementing AI and to ensure workers can adopt new technologies with appropriate safeguards in place.