Wearable artificial intelligence devices like smartwatches and smart glasses are constantly recording surrounding audio without requiring explicit consent from bystanders, CNBC Indonesia reported on Monday, October 19, 2026.
The rising wave of artificial intelligence hardware includes tools capable of transcribing meetings, tracking conversations, and setting reminders. Prominent examples featured on the market include the Bee Frontier and Bee Eclipse from Amazon, Siri on the Apple Watch Series 12, and Meta smart glasses designed to log everyday conversations.
However, these features operate continuously. Unlike older generations of smart speakers that required specific wake words to activate, these newer wearables listen without needing immediate permission from the user or people nearby.
“If I provide permission to be recorded, or everything that I see is recorded, it does not mean that everyone around you has provided that same consent,” said Karen Panetta, dean of graduate education at the Tufts School of Engineering and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, as quoted by CNBC Indonesia.
Tech Manufacturers Address Device Security While Legal Risks Loom
“Conversations are processed in a secure environment no one, including Amazon, can access your data,” Amazon stated.
Legal liability under various regional statutes may fall directly on the device owner rather than the manufacturer. Daniel Pi, associate professor at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, confirmed that the latest audio intelligence features on watches qualify as wiretapping under local regulations, which penalize capturing sound or otherwise acquiring the contents of a communication.
Passive Bystanders Face Unintended Surveillance Risks
The legal and privacy implications extend beyond direct users to individuals who never purchased or interacted with the technology. Michael Stokes, a former CIA officer and senior vice president of emerging technologies at Veilant, highlighted the vulnerability of passive observers.
“I think the passive observer issue and my primary concern, you can be monitored without owning the technology,” Stokes noted.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wearable AI Privacy
Do Apple Watch and Amazon devices store surrounding audio?
Amazon dan Apple memastikan keamanan perangkat masing-masing dan tidak menyimpan audio di sekelilingnya.
Who holds legal liability under wiretapping laws for AI wearable recordings?
A number of rules in some regions will shift the blame to the device owner rather than the manufacturer.
Which specific devices are noted for continuous audio recording capabilities?
Devices cited in the reporting include Amazon’s Bee Frontier and Bee Eclipse, Siri on the Apple Watch Series 12, and Meta smart glasses.
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