Tag: wearable technology laws

A watchdog group has pointed out that wearables will need to adhere to the same regulations as other gadgets.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the United Kingdom has now confirmed that the collection and use of personal data that is obtained through wearable technology devices is subject to the data protection laws that are in place in the country.

The watchdog has stated that everything from smartwatches to Google Glass will be required to comply.

All forms of wearable technology will need to adhere to the regulations as laid out in the Data Protection Act (DPA) in the United Kingdom, said the group in its recent announcement. It explained its statement within a blog post, where it specified that people who are using wearables on their own person and who are using the data collected for their own purposes are not likely to be in conflict with the rules in the DPA.

Wearable technology used for domestic and personal purposes is exempt from the DPA regulations.

Andrew Paterson, the senior technology from the ICO went on to explain that “if you were to one day decide that you’d like to start using this information for other purposes outside of your personal use, for example to support a local campaign or to start a business, then this exemption would no longer apply.”

Organizations who have been – or who intend to – use wearables for the collection and processing of personal information will nearly always need to have to look to the Act to ensure that they are in compliance. It means that they will need to ensure that they are processing the information that they have collected through the use of those devices is in compliance with the DPA.

Among the regulations outlined for the use of information gleaned through wearable technology use is that the individuals affected must be informed about the way in which their personal data is being collected, as well as how it is being used. It must be made certain that only the data that is adequate, relevant, and not excessive is taken, and that it is stored in a secure location from which it is deleted once there is no more requirement to use it, said Paterson’s post.

Legal issues concerning the use of wearable devices attracts notice in Australia

As wearable technology gains more attention, the possible legal issues concerning the use of wearable devices is also attracting more attention from lawmakers in several countries. The Australian Law Reform Commission has begun discussion on how wearable devices could be used for illegal purposes. Google Glass, for instance, could be used to record video and audio without appropriate consent from the subject being recorded. The legal issues that wearable technology has unearthed could prevent the use of devices like Glass in the future.

Organization releases recommendations concerning the legal issues associated with wearable devices

The Australian Law Reform Commission has recommended 47 legislative changes concerning privacy and the use of wearable technology. The organization has suggested that legislation concerning the use of wearable devices to invade someone else’s privacy. Such a legislation would mark the first time the Australian government has taken steps to legally defend the privacy of a single person. The organization is also suggesting the privacy laws be drafted based on those that already exist concerning government surveillance.

Glass has come under fire in the US and elsewhere

Google Glass has been the subject of legal debates throughout the world, but these debates are not always focused on the possibility of invasion of privacy. In some states in the U.S., the use of Glass has already been prohibited amongst drivers. The reasoning behind this ban has to do primarily with the possibility of the device distracting drivers in the same way that other mobile devices do. Glass is not the only wearable device that has come under fire, of course, but it has become the most popular device to receive legal attention.

Legal issues could limit the use of Glass and similar devices

Devices like Glass can easily be used to record conversations and video without consent. These devices can also be used to find out sensitive information about a particular person using facial recognition technology and similar features. Because these devices could be used for potentially malicious purposes, the legal issues concerning the use of these devices in public are beginning to receive more attention.