Australia probes app used in cheap smart glasses over privacy fears

Australia is investigating how and where the firm behind an app used in popular low-cost smart glasses collects and stores personal data, the country’s data protection watchdog said Wednesday.

China-based Shenzhen Qingcheng is the maker of the HeyCyan smart glasses application, used in the Anko smart glasses sold for as little as AU$89 (US$62) at shops like K-mart across Australia.

Australia’s Information Commissioner (OAIC) said it had sent preliminary inquiries to several companies involved in making the glasses last month — including Meta, Kmart, Google and Shenzhen Qingcheng — about how they recorded data and where it was stored.