Meta admits smart glasses error caused unauthorized audio recording

Meta has acknowledged a technical error in its Ray-Ban smart glasses that allowed the devices to record audio and generate text transcriptions without user activation. Users reported that the glasses captured conversations even when the ‘Hey Meta’ voice command was not used and the ‘Respond without Hey Meta’ setting was disabled.

Reports indicate the issue appeared to stem from a recent firmware update and affected multiple devices, including second and third-generation models. The unauthorized recordings were saved directly to the Meta AI app history. While Meta has stated that the problem is now resolved, the company has not provided a detailed explanation regarding the root cause or the total number of users affected by the glitch.

In response to the error, Meta advised users that they can review and delete their voice history through the app settings. The incident has raised renewed privacy concerns regarding wearable technology and the potential for unintended surveillance in public and private spaces.