Smart Glasses Controversy Highlights Privacy Boundaries in Public Content Creation
A content creator using the account @ebemartono faced severe backlash after allegedly secretly recording a host working at a car exhibition booth during the GIIAS automotive expo using smart glasses. The content was later uploaded with an inappropriate narrative.
In a statement on Threads, the host, @leonnyluhendo, explained that the creator had initially asked about the car and she had tried to explain in detail. However, she was unaware that she was being recorded the entire time. “When we were talking, I had no idea I was being videoed. I thought he was only recording the back and the car I was looking after. Because if the content was indeed about the car or the booth I was guarding, that is allowed,” she said.
Instead of posting about the car, the creator released a video with a title that made the host uncomfortable, as she was made the object of the content without her consent. She requested the video be taken down, but the creator initially refused, arguing that recording in a public space did not violate any rules. The creator even allegedly demanded payment to remove the video. “If the video content was about the crowd or they were recording themselves and I accidentally appeared in the video, that would be fine. But what happened here is that I was made the main object of the video, so I have the right to ask for it to be taken down,” she stated.
After the issue went viral and drew widespread criticism, Ebemartono eventually took down the video and posted a clarification and apology. Commenting on the case, digital and social media expert Enda Nasution stated that the emergence of technologies like smart glasses, which allow covert recording, requires the public to understand the boundaries between creating content in public spaces and violating privacy or ethics. He noted that while recording in public is generally permissible, it must be done with respect for others. If the recording captures a general atmosphere and people are merely in the background, it is acceptable. However, the situation changes when an individual is deliberately made the subject of the recording. “If someone is intentionally recorded, their face is clearly visible, and we engage them in conversation, then permission is required. If there is no consent, it is an ethical violation. We must also be transparent that we are recording. If the person does not give permission, we certainly cannot continue the recording,” Enda said.