Police are currently probing videos that appear to show individuals unknowingly recorded with Meta smart glasses. Scott Margerison is under investigation for allegedly filming members of the public, store employees, and ferry workers without their consent during a trip across Scotland. Authorities are reviewing videos shared online by the 42-year-old from Rochdale to determine if any laws were violated.
A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed awareness of the online videos and stated they are evaluating the content. Known as E Dobbin on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, Scott uploaded multiple clips filmed while journeying through Scotland in late June and early July.
The footage depicts Scott approaching people while wearing Meta’s smart glasses, engaging with a Sikh shopkeeper, making inappropriate remarks about young women, and recording scenes on a CalMac ferry. In one video, he converses with a UK-born Sikh shopkeeper of Indian descent in Skye, discussing controversial topics before labeling the encounter as “condescending” in his commentary after leaving.
The shopkeeper, a Skye resident for two decades, expressed feeling intimidated by Scott, who she described as imposing. She mentioned feeling upset upon discovering a secretly recorded video of their interaction online, stating that it made her feel insignificant despite the community’s overall friendliness.
Another video captures Scott making suggestive comments about teenagers on a CalMac ferry before interacting with them and their parents without their awareness of being filmed. The legality of recording individuals with AI smart glasses varies based on circumstances, with considerations for privacy expectations in public spaces and potential consequences of harassment or fear.
Concerns surrounding the use of AI smart glasses have been escalating, particularly regarding privacy issues and potential misuse for inappropriate purposes. Individuals have reported difficulties in having secretly recorded videos removed, highlighting the challenges posed by such technology. Criticism from public figures like singer Lorde has also underscored the ethical implications of widespread adoption of smart glasses.
