Smart glasses spark ban on all photography and filming at Brisbane pools

Smart glasses, which use tiny inbuilt cameras to discreetly take photos and record video, will be banned from public pools in Brisbane.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said on Tuesday the conditions of entry would be changed at all 21 venues to prohibit any filming or photography without prior approval.

“It’s everyone’s right when they visit a council pool to feel safe and comfortable,” he told the council chamber.

“I think this is a reasonable step to take now with the explosion of small and wearable cameras.”

The new rules, which apply to all filming, including on mobile phones or conventional cameras, were triggered by the growing prevalence of smart glasses.

Kmart launched its own low-cost alternative to expensive Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2026, with its home brand, Anko, quickly selling out of the $89 “camera glasses”.

In August, Brisbane City Council announced it was trialling an artificial intelligence system that monitors swimmers for distress at Runcorn Aquatic Centre and Yeronga Park Memorial Pool.

While the technology could save lives, it prompted questions from some residents about privacy and data storage.

A spokesperson for the lord mayor’s office said all footage of swimmers would automatically be deleted after seven days.