19 May 2026
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie

Senator Laura Harmon raises regulation of AI glasses at Oireachtas Committee following recent events in Cork

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and the Children’s Rights Alliance spoke today at the Oireachtas Committee on AI today (19.05.26)

Senator Harmon, who is a member of the AI Committee said:

“I raised the issue of nonconsensual filming and privacy around rapidly changing technology after hearing reports this week in Cork that women have been filmed in their workplaces and during medical emergencies. Regulation must work to keep pace with evolving technologies. These wearable recording devices and any others that follow must be limited to protect privacy and reflect informed consent above all else.

“Representatives from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties told me that AI glasses are “creepy” and have no place in Ireland. Ms Cronin highlighted the use of these glasses in other jurisdictions being coupled with facial recognition as “deeply problematic”.

“AI-enabled glasses are a worry in relation to protecting children too. Snapchat are releasing see-through smart glasses this year. This is a platform that appeals to very young children, and we must be prepared for the rollout of this product and others with appropriate regulation.

“While smart glasses have important uses in aiding those with vision loss and similar conditions, it is vital that we regulate the use of AI glasses for recreational filming to protect privacy in Ireland. We know too that Ireland’s data protection watchdog said proper field testing was not carried out by Meta or Ray-Ban on their glasses to ensure their LED works as an effective notice of the device filming. We must have other means of protecting people from nonconsensual filming.

Laura Harmon Picture Conor McCabe Photography.

Meanwhile, in local politics, Cllr Ciara O’Connor has submitted a motion to Cork City Council on this issue, she said:

“We are already seeing growing concern here in Cork around AI-enabled smart glasses and wearable surveillance technology, particularly from women, retail workers, and people in public-facing roles who are worried about being recorded without their knowledge or consent.

“It’s an issue I have now brought forward in a motion to Cork City Council, as technology is moving far faster than regulation and we urgently need stronger safeguards around privacy, consent, and public safety.”