As part of the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Department of the Air Force Personnel, which was meant to clarify rules on mandatory uniform items and personal appearance while adding visuals to reduce ambiguity, U.S. Air Force airmen and U.S. Space Force guardians are no longer allowed to wear “smart glasses” while on duty.
Although many of the guidelines were about “uniformity” across the services, the issue of the ban on smart glasses with photo, video, or artificial intelligence capabilities was one of security.
Glasses Guidelines
The DAF issued new guidance on eyewear, noting that authorized frames for eyeglasses and sunglasses include black, brown, white, dark blue, gray, transparent, gold, or silver wire. Authorized sunglass lenses must be traditional gray, brown, or dark shades.
The eyeglass lenses “must be conservative,” but also clear, slightly tinted, or photosensitive lenses, the guidelines explained. “Mirrored lenses” were specifically banned.
Again, those issues concerned the appearance of airmen and guardians in uniform.
Last month’s ban on smart glasses wasn’t initially listed as security-related, but the Air Force clarified the issue last week, noting it was due to operational security.
The memo specifically noted the AI glasses produced by Meta, Facebook’s parent company.
“Meta AI glasses, which combine cameras, microphones, and cloud-connected artificial intelligence, present risks that are incompatible with the operational security (OPSEC) requirements of military environments,” an Air Force press release explained.
It noted that constant audio and video capture is a “core feature” of the AI-enabled eyewear.
“Even when a user believes recording is inactive, the presence of always-on sensors creates the possibility of inadvertent data collection,” wrote Dana Thayer, 104th Fighter Wing information protection chief.
Thayer noted that it is common for users to have a conversation about a product only to see it appear while scrolling through social media, and he added that this is no coincidence.
The issue is where the content captured by the glasses ends up.
“Meta AI glasses rely heavily on cloud processing. Data captured by the device is transmitted to external servers for analysis, storage, or improvement of AI models. Unlike our Microsoft 365 Cloud Service operating on government-owned devices, personal electronic devices are not authorized for the transmission or storage of CUI [Controlled Unclassified Information],” Thayer continued.
The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force already prohibit most personal electronic devices in secure areas, and this policy is part of the latest security policy update.
Per orders from Colonel Michael Glass, 104th Fighter Wing Commander, the ban on AI glasses is extended to include the Air Force’s civilian workforce and military members not in uniform.
Apps and Devices – What Do They Capture?
This new directive is just the latest from the Department of Defense to curb the use of technology that can record potentially sensitive information and inadvertently share it online.
Nearly a decade ago, Pokémon Go, which became an international phenomenon, was also banned by militaries worldwide due to security concerns.
The Pentagon has warned military personnel for years against using fitness apps or wearable trackers that collect location data or could otherwise compromise military operations. However, the issue goes beyond just fitness trackers. Many apps are secretly tracking users, raising security concerns.
The issue is whether military officials can keep pace with such emerging technologies.
The U.S. Army Could Embrace the Glasses
Even as the Air Force has raised concerns about the use of Meta AI glasses, the United States Army has begun experimenting with the technology. Task & Purpose reported that the Army has tested the glasses for Infantry Squad Vehicle repairs, while maintaining a less restrictive use of the technology.
Instead of banning the smart glasses, the U.S. Army requires soldiers comply with uniform regulations and personal electronic device guidance. In addition, the Army has employed the glasses for vehicle maintenance, enabling wearers to receive reliable “step-by-step assistance comparable to a human expert.”
Given that such technology could provide information to warfighters in real time, the branches of the military will likely reconsider its adoption, depending on their needs. It will require a trade-off between data security and the delivery of data that can aid personnel in accomplishing the mission.
