(Image: NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL)
Newcastle City Council has hit out at self styled 'auditors' who are “exploiting” vulnerable members of the public in videos filmed with smart glasses.
The local authority has issued Community Protection Warnings to two 'auditors' accused of recording people in Newcastle city centre without their consent.
The social media users are using Meta smart glasses to film members of the public.
A council statement said: “In a civilised society we have a responsibility to each other, and as human beings should understand when someone is vulnerable.
“There are a handful of people in our city centre filming others who may be going through tough times or in some cases just dress differently.
“These self-appointed auditors are using Meta glasses to film people without their consent.
“They make videos which are then uploaded to social media and ruthlessly exploited for likes attracting comments that are often dehumanising.”
Council says conduct is ‘wrong’
The council acknowledged it cannot prevent people from filming in public places, but said it can act if people are being harassed or subjected to persistent unwelcome attention.
A spokesperson said: “This is wrong, and it’s not welcome in a city that prides itself on being caring and looking out for the vulnerable, whether that be those sleeping in shop doorways or struggling with their own demons.”
The warnings issued instruct the two people not to record members of the public without informed consent in public places in Newcastle.
They also prohibit filming employees of Newcastle City Council, Northumbria Police or city-centre organisation NE1, and behaviour likely to cause nuisance or annoyance.
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What happens next?
Newcastle City Council said it is working with Northumbria Police to monitor the allegations and may take further action if it can prove people are being harassed.
A Community Protection Warning is an initial intervention designed to tackle behaviour which is having a detrimental effect on a community.
It can be followed by a Community Protection Notice, and breaching a notice is a criminal offence.
Anyone who experiences or witnesses crime, anti-social behaviour or harassment is asked to report it to Northumbria Police through social media, its live-chat service or online reporting form.