Western Australia just told every public school to ban smart glasses outright.
On Tuesday, education minister Sabine Winton announced what she called the country's most comprehensive ban on smart glasses in classrooms. The same day, department director general Jay Peckitt issued a formal instruction to school leaders rather than a mere policy statement, giving the ban regulatory teeth. Winton's framing was blunt: whatever novelty the devices offer, they have no place in schools. Neither official detailed enforcement mechanics or pointed to a specific incident that triggered the move.
Smart glasses complicate the usual phone-ban playbook. A phone in a pocket is at least visible; a camera built into eyewear can record or livestream without anyone noticing. Most school tech bans to date have targeted distraction. This one targets covert surveillance, a harder problem to police with hall monitors and confiscation bins.
Other states will likely wait to see how WA enforces this before drafting their own versions.