To guard against hidden wearable cameras, Brisbane City Council has introduced stricter recording rules across its public pools, including locations in Bellbowrie, Wacol, Corinda, and Jindalee.
Consent rules extend across pool grounds
Brisbane City Council is strengthening conditions of entry at its public pools to prohibit photography, video recording and still-image capture without prior consent.
The rules cover mobile phones, action cameras and wearable devices such as smart glasses, and target covert recording, particularly in changerooms where patrons expect privacy.
New signage will be progressively installed over the coming weeks.
Smart glasses put discreet filming in focus
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said recent concerns about smart glasses being used without people’s knowledge or consent had heightened privacy concerns. He said families should be able to use the facilities without worrying that they or their children were being secretly recorded.
Camera-equipped glasses can resemble conventional eyewear while allowing photographs or video to be captured without the user holding a phone or camera. Council says the updated rules are designed to keep pace with more accessible wearable recording technology.
No particular Brisbane pool has been publicly identified as the site of an incident that prompted the changes. Council has described the initiative as a response to broader concerns about covert recording and the growing availability of discreet technology.
Child safety groups support tighter safeguards
Queensland Family and Child Commission principal commissioner Luke Twyford welcomed measures aimed at reducing foreseeable risks to children in public spaces. He said organisations operating services and facilities for children needed to ensure those environments were safe and protected against exploitation.
Digital Rights Watch head of policy Tom Sulston also welcomed the move, citing threats to privacy and dignity posed by smart glasses and similar covert cameras. He called for councils and state and federal governments to consider stronger protections against unwanted recording.
Signs to spell out consent requirement
Proposed signs will advise patrons that recording, photography and still-image capture, including through smart glasses, are not permitted without prior consent. Wearing or carrying smart glasses is not itself prohibited under the announced rules; the restriction applies when the devices are used to capture people without permission.
Separate approval rules already apply to commercial filming and photography using Council-managed assets, including swimming pools.
Schrinner said the changes would give pool staff clearer rules for responding to inappropriate filming and help protect swimmers’ privacy. Council says the rollout will occur progressively over the coming weeks.
Published 26-Aug-2026
