In Wales, an MP's use of smart glasses as a teleprompter opens a debate on the security of the British Parliament

Without notes and with figures learned by heart, for several minutes Reform UK MP Jason O'Connell delivered his speech to the Welsh Parliament in Cardiff on September 30. A service which raised questions: according to the Guardian, some parliamentarians suspect the elected official of having used connected glasses acting as a teleprompter. If the main person concerned did not confirm the information, the affair quickly crossed the borders of Wales. In Westminster, several British parliamentarians are now calling for measures concerning the use of connected glasses by elected officials.

Some MPs wrote to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, on Wednesday October 14, to ask him to act on the increasing use of this type of equipment among parliamentarians. Anna Sabine, spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, said she would not necessarily know if a parliamentarian was wearing this type of glasses. It is precisely this lack of visibility that poses a problem, according to her. According to the MP, the adoption of a law would help guarantee security within Parliament, in particular because of the risk of recording videos or taking photos without the knowledge of those present, which could compromise the confidentiality of certain sensitive files.

New security challenges

The reaction of the British parliamentary authorities was not long in coming. A spokesperson for Westminster said authorities were reviewing their policy on the use of smart glasses and other wearable technology with cameras inside Parliament.

Before that, already last month, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, Lord Ponsonby, declared that he was “examining (…) the need for additional guidance” in the face of the proliferation of these new technologies. To respond to these new challenges, Lord Ponsonby has set up expert work with several players from different fields, such as physical security, photography and data protection. For the parliamentarian, the diversity of profiles brought together will guarantee the balance between “security, privacy, operational needs. »