The Lahore High Court has issued notifications to the federal government, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Ministry of Commerce and others over a petition challenging the unregulated import and sale of camera- and microphone-equipped smart glasses in Pakistan.
Advocate Shahram Saqi represented citizen Husnainul Abideen, who had filed the public interest petition, which was heard by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum.
The petitioner said gadgets such as Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses look like a normal pair of spectacles but may take pictures, record movies and transmit what the user is seeing without the activity being visible immediately.
The petition argues that these features set smart glasses apart from traditional smartphones, and that they present risks to privacy, dignity and personal liberty under Articles 9 and 14 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
Smart Glasses For Sale In Lahore
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel said that although Meta did not formally announce Pakistan as a market for its smart glasses, the gadgets were available for sale on online platforms and in physical places in Lahore, including shops at Hafeez Center.
The lawyer also pointed to regulatory issues, said to have been raised in Ireland, Italy and Germany. The proceedings also noted restrictions on the use of smart glasses in some courts in England and Wales and New York.
The petition requests the court to rule that the unrestricted use of smart glasses with cameras is inconsistent with constitutional guarantees. It further seeks directives to restrict their import, review of necessary PTA approvals, and ban their use in critical places such as courts, airports and government offices.
The petitioner has also demanded that customs authorities not clear consignments that have such devices and that cybercrime authorities provide records of complaints relating to the usage of such devices.
Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, after hearing the preliminary arguments, issued notices to the respondents and instructed them to submit their replies by October 8.
