German regulator eyes ban on Meta smart glasses over privacy concerns

Hamburg data‑protection officer Thomas Fuchs warned that Meta’s AI‑enabled smart glasses can record video and audio covertly, which he says breaches German data‑protection law. He indicated that a sales ban for the devices in Germany is possible, noting that the devices are disguised as ordinary eyewear and lack a clear recording indicator.

The market for smart glasses is expanding rapidly; IDC forecasts about 13.6 million units sold worldwide in 2026, with Meta holding roughly 70 % of the German market. Despite the growth, several venues—including DEF CON and Tivoli Vredenburg—have already prohibited camera‑equipped glasses, and Dutch retailers are seeing the product become a status item while debating its legality.

Activist group Bits of Freedom, represented by director Evelyn Austin, called for an outright ban, arguing that ubiquitous camera glasses would erode street‑level privacy and foster self‑censorship. The European Data Protection Board announced a forthcoming study on societal acceptance of such devices, and the French regulator CNIL has previously warned about large‑scale surveillance risks.