A recent trend on social media has raised concerns among homelessness advocates. Content creators are using smart glasses with embedded cameras to film vulnerable or homeless people without their consent. The footage is then posted online for likes and shares. One example of this trend is a Facebook video that has been viewed by nearly a million people, showing a woman being filmed while unconscious on a park bench.
The use of smart glasses has grown in popularity, with Meta selling over seven million pairs of AI-powered devices last year. This has led to an increase in non-consensual filming, particularly among vulnerable individuals such as the homeless. Several Big Issue vendors have reported being filmed using Meta Glasses without their consent, sharing personal information without knowing it would end up online.
The consequences of this trend can be severe. Some vendors have been subjected to horrible, often racist, abuse, which has been filmed using wearable technology and posted online. This can leave them feeling exposed and humiliated, or even pose a real threat to their safety at work. Paul Cheal, CEO of Big Issue Group, emphasizes that many vendors are vulnerable individuals with little ability to challenge or remove this content once it's spread.
The issue is not limited to Big Issue vendors. In early September, Blackpool Council issued an official plea to bring back "compassion" to the town's public spaces after "self-appointed auditors" started visiting public places to film local people without their knowledge or consent. A council spokesperson emphasized that behind every video is a real person, and that compassion should not be lost.
In Newcastle, nearly 6,000 people have signed a petition urging local authorities to ban exploitative "content creators" from the city centre. The petition singles out Michael Ballymore and fellow creator Tin Tin, who have been accused of filming homeless or vulnerable people for entertainment. In response, the creators denied targeting vulnerable people for clout or views, stating that they genuinely care about highlighting the problems on the streets.
However, experts argue that the law is limited in protecting individuals from non-consensual filming. In England and Wales, there is no general offence of filming a person in a public place, covertly or otherwise. Specific offences such as voyeurism and stalking may apply, but taking legal action is difficult. Subhajit Basu, a professor at the University of Leeds School of Law, emphasizes that the current system of privacy rights is often vindicated by claimants who can afford solicitors.
The issue raises concerns about the protection of vulnerable individuals and the need for greater compassion in public spaces. As smart glasses continue to grow in popularity, homelessness advocates are warning of a "tsunami" of exploitative videos. It remains to be seen how this trend will be addressed and what measures will be taken to protect those who are being exploited for views.
Key points
- Content creators are using smart glasses to film vulnerable people without consent, sparking fears of a "tsunami" of exploitative videos.
- The law is limited in protecting individuals from non-consensual filming, making it difficult to take legal action.
- Homelessness advocates are warning of a growing trend of exploitative videos and calling for greater compassion in public spaces.
