Low-price retailer Kmart has stopped selling its $89 Anko smart glasses following a preliminary investigation by the Privacy Commissioner that garnered no response from one of the key suppliers of the technology.
The smart glasses use ‘HeyCyan’ software, built and sold by Shenzhen Qingcheng Future Technology Co. Ltd (Shenzhen Qingcheng), a Chinese manufacturer. According to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), this technology is used in the Anko glasses that were sold by Kmart, as well as in low-cost products sold on the Big W Marketplace and Amazon.
A search on Big W’s Marketplace by this publication indicates it has also stopped selling smart glasses.
Amazon continues to sell a variety of smart glasses into Australia, but it is unclear if it is still selling smart glasses that contain HeyCyan technology.
The OAIC has been monitoring the rollout of smart glasses since early 2026, and in August 2026 received correspondence from the Attorney-General requesting the Privacy Commissioner examine the privacy implications of smart glasses devices.
From August 12, preliminary inquiries were issued to various manufacturers and distributors of smart glasses, including Meta, Kmart, Google and Shenzhen Qingcheng. These entities were asked to clarify how the smart glasses work – including how they record information – as well as who has access to the recorded information, and where the recorded information is stored.
The OAIC did not receive a response from Shenzhen Qingcheng in relation to the preliminary inquiries.
“In the absence of any response from Shenzhen Qingcheng to the OAIC’s preliminary inquiries, I have no assurance that it is protecting personal data of Australians as required by the Privacy Act,” Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind said..
“The failure of Shenzhen Qingcheng to respond to the OAIC’s inquiries raises concerns about the entity’s practices, procedures and systems to protect the personal information it holds, as required by APP 1.
“In those circumstances I considered it was important to commence an investigation so that I could utilise my full range of powers to examine this issue, including issuing compulsory information gathering notices.”
In addition to the opening of an investigation into Shenzhen Qingcheng, the Privacy Commissioner has written to retailers of devices using the HeyCyan app to express her concerns.
“The Australian community has expressed its concern about the proliferation of smart glasses and other surveillance wearables,” Kind said. “Given the particular risks the OAIC has identified with the HeyCyan app, I would urge responsible retailers to consider whether it is appropriate to continue making these devices available.”
The OAIC is awaiting the conclusion of the investigation before commenting further.