Meta smart glasses face privacy backlash and potential bans

Meta's AI-powered smart glasses, produced in partnership with Ray-Ban, are facing intense scrutiny over privacy and potential misuse for covert filming. Critics and privacy advocates have raised concerns that the devices' LED indicators, intended to signal when recording is active, are easily obscured or insufficient for bystanders to notice. This has led to the devices being labeled pejoratively as “pervert glasses” in some social media circles.

In response to reports of users filming people without consent, Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth acknowledged the privacy issues and announced a software update. The new update is designed to automatically disable the camera if the recording LED is obstructed. Meta has also been removing content and suspending accounts linked to the misuse of the technology.

Legislative and social pushback is growing globally. In Hamburg, Germany, a political coalition is seeking to ban the use of smart glasses in public baths and on public transportation to protect citizen privacy. In the United Kingdom, campaigns like “StopSmartGlasses” are calling for bans, and some venues have already prohibited the eyewear. Additionally, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed discomfort with the technology, noting that speaking to individuals wearing camera-equipped glasses feels intrusive.