A woman filmed without consent by a man wearing smart glasses has described feeling "exploited" and "powerless" after the video was posted online.
The Incident
A woman, referred to as Alice for privacy reasons, was unknowingly filmed by a man wearing smart glasses as she walked into a London shopping centre. The man followed her during the interaction.
The video was later posted on social media, where it accumulated around 40,000 views. Alice only became aware of the footage after a friend shared the link with her.
The Demand for Payment
When Alice contacted the poster to request the video's removal—stating it made her feel humiliated—the response was unexpected.
The poster replied that removal was available as a "paid service."
Alice refused to pay and instead reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police. The police opened an investigation but later closed it due to limited information.
Platform Response
The video was eventually removed by TikTok, which also banned the account for violating bullying and harassment policies. However, the man reposted the footage on another platform, which was subsequently taken down by Meta.
The Creator's Defence
The man refused to be interviewed. In an email, he stated his intention was to create "light-hearted, respectful interactions" and claimed he does not engage in harassment.
Regarding the payment request, he explained that the reference to a "paid service" was intended for separate content-related requests, not as a condition for removal due to personal concerns.
Broader Context
Legal experts commented that these actions constitute a threat and raise concerns about social media platforms monetizing harmful content.
This incident is part of a larger BBC investigation into the use of smart glasses by male influencers to create content without consent. The BBC identified multiple accounts run by the same man across YouTube, Instagram, and Threads.
Expert and Official Statements
Alice: "It made me feel exploited, powerless."
Dr. Beatriz Kira, University of Sussex law school: Solutions should focus on cutting financial incentives for harmful content.
UK government spokesperson: Filming and sharing content without consent is "vile and will not be tolerated."