Victoria bans smart glasses in every school from 2027, with stricter rules for adults

Students at every school in Victoria will have to switch off and store smart glasses during school hours from the start of the 2027 school year. In government schools, teachers, parents and volunteers will not be allowed to wear them on school grounds at all.

Meta Ray-Ban Display, one of several camera glasses on sale. Victoria's ban names no company or product. Image: Meta

The Victorian government announced the ban on October 21. It extends the state's phone ban to smart glasses and other wearable devices in government, Catholic and independent schools.

Adults in government schools may not wear smart glasses at any time

The rule for adults is stricter than the one for students. Teachers, parents and volunteers at government schools may not wear smart glasses or "other covert filming devices" on school grounds or at school activities off site, such as camps and excursions. That applies at all times, not only during lessons, and it also covers government school students.

The only exemption is for people with disability, as a reasonable adjustment when nothing else will do. The government has not set out penalties.

"Smart glasses have no place in our classrooms or on school grounds," said Deputy Premier and Education Minister Gabrielle Williams.

Prescription AI glasses look much like ordinary frames, which makes them hard for schools to spot. Image: Meta

Extending the adult ban to private schools needs a new law after the election

The adult ban does not yet reach Catholic and independent schools. The government says a re-elected Carroll Labor government would extend it to them through legislation, so that part depends on the next state election.

Victoria banned phones in government schools in 2020, and says it was the first jurisdiction to do so. An independent evaluation found students focused better in class and were more social at breaks, and schools reported fewer phone incidents.

Ray-Ban Meta glasses carry a camera in the frame, like other camera glasses covered by the rule. Image: Meta

Victoria follows Western Australia but covers private schools for students from the start

The announcement names no company or product. It covers any glasses that can film, the category Meta, Snap and others are pushing into everyday frames.

Western Australia moved first, and its public-school ban also covers parents. Victoria's student rule reaches further because it includes Catholic and independent schools from day one.