Zuckoff app detects nearby Meta smart glasses to protect privacy

Polish software developer Pawel Szydlowski has released Zuckoff, a mobile application designed to detect Meta smart glasses in the vicinity of a user. The app functions by analyzing broadcast Bluetooth signals and unique device identifiers (UUID) to estimate the proximity of the wearable devices, including Ray-Ban Meta models.

The tool was developed in response to growing privacy concerns regarding the potential for smart glasses to be used for surreptitious filming in public spaces. Szydlowski stated that society has a “right to at least know that someone is recording.” The application has already gained approximately 5,000 users since its launch on the Apple App Store. A paid version, Zuckoff Pro, offers background notifications to alert users of nearby devices even when the app is not actively open.

Meta has addressed privacy criticisms by implementing software updates that disable recording if the device's indicator LED is covered. Meta Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth has defended the hardware, asserting that the cameras are designed to be clearly noticeable to those around the wearer. Despite these measures, calls for bans and increased regulation continue in various regions, including parts of Europe and the United Kingdom.