'Man in smart glasses filmed me in London then told me to pay'

The BBC reports that a woman identified as Alice was secretly filmed by a man wearing smart glasses in a London shopping centre, with the video subsequently posted on social media and viewed approximately 40,000 times. When Alice requested removal, the man initially demanded payment as a 'paid service' before later claiming miscommunication about separate content-editing requests; he ultimately refused further clarification, and the video was later reposted after TikTok removed it. The reporting demonstrates strong journalistic rigor: the BBC obtained direct quotes from Alice, contacted the man for response (securing his email clarifications), verified platform removals (TikTok ban, Meta action), and interviewed legal experts (Prof Clare McGlynn and Dr Beatriz Kira) who contextualize the behavior as a novel form of extortion distinct from traditional blackmail. Independent coverage from Gizmodo, Digital Trends, and Tech Digest corroborates the core facts and frames this as part of a broader pattern, though none provide additional victims or systemic data; the BBC's investigation appears to be the primary source. Watch for potential legislative action under the 2025 Violence Against Women and Girls strategy mentioned by the government spokesperson, police investigation outcomes, and whether other platforms establish coordinated enforcement policies around non-consensual smart glasses recording.