Disabled Australians warn banning smart glasses will limit accessibility, despite serious safety concerns.
The camera-equipped technology products are being quickly adopted across Australia and cheap versions sold by retailers such as Kmart have increased worries about privacy and people being filmed covertly without their consent.
But the products have made it much easier for people with sight impairments to participate in daily life, Vision Australia's chief mission officer Chris Hastings told AAP.
Mr Hastings, who is totally blind, described a previously laborious process of unlocking his phone, typing in codes and opening the correct app with the help of accessibility features to do something as simple as reading a menu.
Now, he uses a couple of hands-free steps on his glasses.
He says accessibility for people like him outweighs any potential risks when considering a blanket ban.
“There have been people that can use phones irresponsibly and do the wrong thing," he said.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland defended Labor's decision not to crack down on the import of smart glasses on Monday, instead calling on businesses and local councils to step up enforcement.
"Disability advocates and groups and people who are directly impacted in a positive way by this technology also need to have their voices heard in this debate," she said while announcing sweeping reforms to Australia's privacy laws.
Smart glasses are not mentioned at length in the draft legislation, which targets AI and increased control of personal identity information, but supporting documents suggest crackdowns on misuse should occur at a local level.
The Greens slammed the approach and instead called for a year-long ban on importing the glasses while stricter laws and regulations were negotiated.
The party also wants a prominent light or sound to be made compulsory on all models.
While a long import ban was unlikely to be attainable, a shorter one would give the government and disability community time to talk properly and consider options, University of Technology Sydney policy specialist Sarah Sacher said.
"Right now, we know these glasses aren't safe. There could be a temporary measure to keep them off the market until we've got the right protections in place," she said.
Ms Sacher was particularly concerned about cheap dupes of smart glasses, which could open a "Pandora's box" of misuse.
"There are different kinds of data usage and safeguards - or even no safeguards - in various dupes that make it harder and harder to keep a handle on (how they are being used)," she said.
She also hoped the government would better address technologies like facial recognition to ensure Australians' public safety.
