Meta Glasses spark privacy backlash and revive the 'glasshole' nickname

Meta Platforms Inc., in partnership with Ray‑Ban, has launched the Meta Glasses – AI‑powered smart eyewear that can take photos, record video, answer questions, translate languages and assist visually impaired users. The product, showcased by CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the Meta Connect event in Menlo Park in September 2025, is the first widely available version of a smart‑glass concept that has been pursued for over a decade.

Online communities have quickly dubbed the devices "pervert glasses" and revived the derogatory term "glasshole" originally applied to Google Glass in 2013. Critics warn that the built‑in cameras and microphones could enable non‑consensual recording and sexual harassment, prompting calls for stronger safeguards. Some users have suggested playing copyrighted Disney music near wearers, hoping that any uploaded footage would be automatically removed under copyright claims.

Meta acknowledges privacy concerns but argues the glasses have legitimate uses, especially for people with visual impairments. The controversy has placed the product at the center of a broader debate about the societal impact of wearable AI technology.