Australian Privacy Regulator Investigates Software Provider for Smartglasses

The Australian privacy regulator has initiated a formal investigation into Shenzhen Qingcheng, the China-based developer of the HeyCyan software used in consumer smartglasses. The probe follows the company’s failure to respond to regulatory inquiries regarding its data collection practices and privacy policies.

This regulatory action highlights significant gaps in current privacy legislation, which primarily governs corporate and government entities rather than individual users of surveillance wearables. The commissioner noted that retailers and manufacturers may currently evade Privacy Act obligations if they do not directly collect personal information through the devices.

Proposed legislative reforms aim to replace existing standards with a "fair and reasonable" test for data collection. These changes are intended to address the proliferation of discreet recording technologies and ensure greater accountability for entities managing software that captures personal information in public spaces.