Meta smart glasses face growing public backlash over privacy and harassment concerns

Meta's AI‑powered smart glasses have sparked a wave of criticism and social stigma across Europe and beyond. Celebrities who promoted the devices were met with hostile reactions from fans, with pop singer Lorde publicly denouncing the glasses at a Madrid festival. Social media users in Germany, Austria and Sweden report being called "pervert glasses" and facing verbal or physical confrontations when wearing them, citing misuse by men to covertly record women for TikTok and other platforms. Some German swimming pools have already banned the glasses, and the EU has issued a specific exemption regarding replaceable batteries while maintaining a stance of regulatory independence, despite pressure from the U.S. ambassador.

The backlash has also deterred potential buyers. A freelance video producer in Arctic Sweden said online criticism made him reconsider purchasing the glasses, and an Engadget interview highlighted the perception that anyone wearing the device is automatically assumed to be a predator. While Meta markets the glasses as tools for effortless connection, the growing privacy concerns and reports of non‑consensual recordings have led many users to keep the devices unused or stored away.

Industry observers note that the controversy mirrors the earlier failure of Google Glass, suggesting that without clear consent mechanisms and societal acceptance, the product may struggle to achieve mainstream adoption.