Punjab bans camera-enabled smart glasses for 30 days
Punjab has banned the wearing and sale of camera-enabled smart glasses and miniature cameras concealed in everyday objects for 30 days, invoking Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, in a move aimed at curbing secret recording and harassment.
The order, issued by the Punjab Home Department on Tuesday and reported by Geo News, took effect immediately and covers the wearing or operation of smart glasses with hidden recording capabilities, as well as miniature cameras disguised as pens, key chains and similar accessories. Retailers, wholesalers, traders and distributors are barred from selling or offering the devices, online or in shops. Laptops, tablets, mobile phones and terminal equipment approved by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority are exempt, as are authorised law enforcement personnel.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed authorities to enforce the ban strictly. The Home Department said devices capable of secretly capturing and transmitting photographs, video, audio and other information pose risks to personal privacy, public safety and national security, and warned of misuse in airports, examination centres, government offices, hospitals, shopping malls and courts. It cited unauthorised surveillance, harassment, blackmail and disclosure of sensitive information, and said the measures were needed to protect the dignity and privacy of women and children in particular.
The restriction comes as the Lahore High Court considers a public interest petition challenging the unregulated import and sale of smart glasses equipped with cameras and microphones. According to Dawn, the court has directed the federal government to forward a summary to the federal cabinet on the matter. The petitioner's lawyer argued that Meta smart glasses were openly available through online platforms and shops in Lahore despite Pakistan not being officially listed as a market by the company.
The devices have drawn scrutiny internationally. Oslo has banned smart glasses in schools, and France's data protection watchdog has urged caution over their use. In Britain, reports of women and girls being secretly filmed by wearers prompted a petition calling for restrictions on sales. Punjab's restrictions remain in force for 30 days unless withdrawn earlier, with authorities warning that violations could lead to legal action.