Woman Secretly Filmed by Man in Smart Glasses Demands Video Removal, Offered Paid Service

A woman known as Alice says a man wearing smart glasses secretly filmed her as she entered a London shopping centre, then posted the video on social media and offered to remove it only for payment.

Alice contacted the man after a friend alerted her to the video, which had garnered about 40,000 views. She told him it made her feel humiliated and asked him to take it down. In response, he called removal a paid service.

She is among several women who have told the BBC about distress from being recorded and shared online without consent. The videos often appear under the guise of dating advice for men.

Alice spoke to the BBC after its investigation revealed how male influencers use smart glasses for harmful content. She recalled approaching the shopping centre when the man started talking to her. She thought he was just chatting her up and hoped he would leave, but he followed her.

In the moment, she had no idea she was being filmed. He held no phone or obvious camera. Her initial reaction on learning of the video was complete shock.

Alice emailed the account holder asking for takedown. He replied that he would remove it as a paid service. She said this made her feel exploited and powerless, though she never considered paying and reported the matter to police.

The Metropolitan Police opened an investigation but could not progress it due to limited information.

The BBC contacted the man, who declined an interview but emailed that he does not seek to cause distress or harm. He said his intention has always been to create light-hearted, respectful interactions and that he does not engage in harassment or deliberately make anyone uncomfortable.

Asked why he did not remove Alice's video after her request, he said he reviews content case by case where individuals express genuine discomfort and makes adjustments where appropriate. He reposted the video to another site after TikTok removed it. TikTok later banned his account for breaching rules on bullying and harassment.

On the paid removal offer, he first said he does not require payment for removals and is open to reviewing misunderstandings. Pressed further, he claimed the phrasing referred to separate requests like editing, not as a condition for addressing personal concerns. He regretted any unclear wording.

Alice had only asked for the video's removal, not other services. She said he still has the file, which leaves her uneasy and checking for reuploads. She feels powerless and called non-consensual sharing a breach of privacy and data that can be dangerous.

The BBC knows of at least one other woman who contacted him for video removal. It found multiple accounts run by the same man on YouTube, Instagram and Threads posting similar content. Meta took down Alice's reposted video but offered no comment to the BBC. The YouTube account is no longer active.

Durham University law researcher Prof. Clare McGlynn said the man's refusal to remove the video unless paid is a threat to the victim, though not standard blackmail involving threats to post intimate images.

Another woman, Kira, said more must be done to stop platforms and influencers profiting from harmful content by cutting incentives at the root, beyond just takedowns.

A government spokesperson said women and girls deserve to feel safe, filming and sharing without consent is vile and will not be tolerated. The 2025 Violence Against Women and Girls strategy includes measures to tackle technology-enabled abuse, protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable.