Italy data protection authority asks Facebook for explanations on smart glasses

Italy's data protection authority said on Friday it has asked Facebook give explanations over the social media goliath's recently launched smart glasses to evaluate whether the product is agreeable with privacy laws. Facebook smart glasses, which were made in association with Ray-Ban producer EssilorLuxottica, permit wearers to listen to music, take calls or capture photos and short videos and offer them across Facebook's services using a companion app. The Italian watchdog, Garante, said it has called the Irish data protection commissioner, which leads oversight of Facebook in light of the fact that the social media organization's European headquarters are situated in Ireland, to ask Facebook for explanations. The Italian authority said it wanted to be informed on measures Facebook has set up to secure individuals occasionally filmed, specifically children, as well as on systems adopted to make information gathered anonymous and features of the voice assistant associated with the glasses. "We know people have questions about new technologies, so before the launch of Ray-Ban Stories we engaged with the Irish DPC to share how we’ve built privacy into the product design and functionality of the glasses to give both device owners and people around them peace of mind," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement. "We'll answer questions from Garante through the Irish DPC and we look forward to our continued collaboration with regulators in Europe," the spokesperson added.