Anko Camera Glasses: A $89 Privacy Nightmare Down Under
Australian retail giant Kmart has entered the smart glasses arena with its Anko brand, offering a strikingly familiar design at a fraction of the cost of the Meta Ray-Bans. Priced at just $89, these glasses are a budget alternative to Meta’s $337+ models, but their affordability raises serious privacy concerns. As Meta has sold over 7 million units worldwide and enlisted celebrities like Kylie Jenner for promotion, the market is flooded with cheap imitations, and privacy advocates are sounding the alarm.
The core issue lies in the glasses’ ability to discreetly record video and audio, which has earned them the moniker “pervert glasses.” In Australia, privacy and surveillance laws vary significantly between states and territories, creating a patchwork of regulations that may not adequately protect the public. For instance, if a user like Mia, who has a significant social media following, captures footage, Commonwealth privacy obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 could apply to how she stores and uses that data. However, the onus is on the user to comply, and enforcement remains a challenge.
Despite the privacy concerns, Kmart defends the product, stating that such wearable technology is “an established and increasingly mainstream category.” Indeed, the Anko glasses offer 64GB of storage—double last year’s model—and while some Reddit users report slower performance compared to Meta’s software, the core functionality is remarkably similar. This accessibility means that virtually anyone can now record others without consent, amplifying the potential for misuse.
As the line between convenience and intrusion blurs, the question remains: will the public embrace these budget-friendly glasses, or will the privacy risks prove too great? With no federal law specifically addressing wearable cameras, Australians may be left vulnerable. Until clearer regulations are enacted, the onus is on individuals to use such devices responsibly. Whether that’s enough to reassure the public remains to be seen.
Shimanta Das 
