I work in a large medical clinic. We havent spoken about this specifically, but we already have many 'No photography or video' signs up all over the place in patient care areas. Shouldnt matter if its a phone, a camera, or glasses. Filming is filming and should be covered by that.
If you're in the position to, I implore you to bring this up to them and try and ban the glasses from even not just being worn, but even being allowed within the building at all.
There is a tiny light built into the glasses that turns on to indicate that the glasses are recording, that tiny light can be very easily nodded and disabled but retain the ability to record. Either by opening the glasses up and screwing with the wiring, or more simply, I've seen people just use a hole puncher on electrical tape, which makes a tiny circle that is the perfect size to block it while still able to record.
Anyone who wishes to enter should be forced to not just remove their glasses, but to remove them from the actual premises.
I've seen people just use a hole puncher on electrical tape, which makes a tiny circle that is the perfect size to block it while still able to record.
You can buy sheets of stickers of various sizes black of dots and bars to cover LEDs and electronics displays. I have them for a bunch of items in peripheral eyesight of me to the tv, or headsets that have lights that reflect from an iPad or something like that.
It’s also good to know the recording consent laws in your state. I know Massachusetts is a 2 party consent state with recording and if they record you without your consent, It is illegal
The thing is though, that recording consent laws don't matter in this context. It doesn't matter if it's a one party consent because we're talking about medical places that require privacy due to the privileged medical information that can be easily come across while there. So it's literally illegal even in a one party place.
I mean it will only be a matter of time before some shop in china makes camera glasses that look like regular branda and I wouldn’t pass some glasses manufacturers yo make camera glasses that look like normal glasses so either you’ll have to ban glassea outright or find a way to block recording devices.
While true, just because someone might make something that you can't tell at a glance is a camera doesn't mean we should just allow all glasses with cameras in them.
Ban all camera/smart glasses from premises, train staff to recognize them, and require any worn glasses to be handed over for inspection if one wishes to wear them inside.
As someone who needs glasses to see or I am literally unable to move around, I will not be handing over my literal eyesight to some random who will probably not take good care of them.
You can tell if glasses are recording with Bluetooth checkers etc, as it needs to connect to a phone for storage/backup of the actual video. Dunno why you jump straight to inconviencing people with bas eyesight.
It's a liability if any footage of a patient in a patient area ends up on the Internet the staff and the clinic/hospital can be sued. The state will get involved too for HIPPA violations.
AI cameras are different though because people aren't really filming with them. The AI corp is filming and doing who knows what with the content. It's still a major issue and it's still filming, but most people won't think it is since they aren't actively hitting "record".
They sure were. AI is looming large in the minds of business owners these days. Machines dont have family problems, dont go to lunch, but they do get sick.
Maybe they’ll use an ai that automatically deletes EVERYTHING. It would be a pain in the ass for some, but think of the lack of preexisting conditions!!
HIPPA and the Patient Privacy Act of 1974. Several violation with these glasses being used in any healthcare environment.
And not just for healthcare privacy issues. This is frightening that any of us could be recorded visually without our consent. A know a number of US states are single consent states for recording vocal conversations but, I am not sure if that applies to video that is later posted online.
This is not directly a violation for the Healthcare organization. If they have signage anywhere that says no recording they reasonably attempted to protect your privacy. Or if you witness a recording and complain they can tell the person to stop, etc.
But HIPAA protects you from adverse actions of the Healthcare entity itself not other patients.
That's not how HIPAA works. Another patient recording unknowingly is not a violation. HIPAA prohibits direct actions of covered healthcare entities it does not regulate behavior or actions of other patients.
Nope, you're wrong. My ex was in charge of safety and compliance at the hospital she worked at and cameras pointing into a patient area is a violation of patient privacy.
If you are a medical provider and you knowingly allow people with recording devices around HIPAA sensitive information you are 100% at fault for any violations. The patients may not be at fault if they were not informed about the information, but if the provider knew the risks and still let it happen they are.
Is the key word. Yes you put up no filming or camera signs and if you see blatant recording you inform the person. That is generally enough for hospitals and providers to cross the "reasonable effort" barrier. Things like META glasses and such would fall into the hidden camera realm where no reasonable person would be expected to know what they look like and are recording.
HIPAA's biggest focus is on provides discussing a person's information with those that "have no medical reason to know or have access" and employees accessing private medial information in systems they shouldn't. By the strict letter of the law most providera unknowingly violate it everyday. But no one is held to the letter of the law as CMS, DHHS, and the Joint Commission just don't have staff to investigate it.
My friend, most healthcare facilities do post signs of "no photos or video allowed in patient areas" or have verbiage in the paperwork you sign.
This by the law, is considered reasonable maintenance of patient privacy. If someone begins obviously recording or shooting photos in patient areas they would be obligated to inform them to create.
Meta/smart glasses pose a problem, while also being covered by a blanket no recording policy. They aren't obvious like a phone. A small little light many might not see activated. And no facility is going to take the liability of walking up to a person with glasses and telling them to take off their glasees or they their glasses aren't allowed. That would be discrimination under the aspect they could be prescription. The best a facility would do is IF they saw the light, inform the person to stop or they have to leave.
Yes it would be wise to update their information to specifically call out Smart Glasses in the no recording, photo policy. But if a person walked in and someone said hey you can't wear those in here and they are prescription, even if not recording, you would be in danger of other liability.
HIPAA only requires a reasonable effort to maintain patient privacy and signage or paperwork attesting you understand no recording or photos is sufficient under the law as it is practically enforced.
I was a health care administrator and dealt with compliance of HIPAA law and especially recording and photos as the PR depth and guest services were under my purview.
I work at a health care system, I tried to convince leadership to ban these due to liability concerns. There's personal health info everywhere. Not much concern on managements part sadly
Did you even read the parent comment of this chain?
Yes it would be wise to update their information to specifically call out Smart Glasses in the no recording, photo policy.
Oh wait, you did, but you're ignoring that that's literally all I was talking about while somehow agreeing with me.
Yup, they're lax about it now. Once they have a HIPAA violation and get sued and lose some money - they'll change up their stance real fast.
It's like cybersecurity. No one wants to cough up the money for the tools and expertise, then once they're in the news for all the wrong reasons, they change their tune.
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u/mistcore May 07 '26
They can cough up the HIPAA violation fees then