Meta plans facial recognition in smart glasses amid privacy concerns
Meta is developing a facial recognition feature called Name Tag for smart glasses that would identify individuals in real time. An internal memo revealed the company planned to launch it during a period when it expected civil liberties organizations to be focused elsewhere, and acknowledged privacy and safety risks.
What happened
Meta is developing a facial recognition feature called Name Tag for smart glasses produced with EssilorLuxottica, which would allow users to identify individuals and obtain information through Meta's AI assistant.
An internal memo from Meta's Reality Labs division stated the company planned to launch the feature during a period of political activity in the United States, noting that civil society organizations that typically oppose them would be focused on other issues.
Reported impact
The American Civil Liberties Union warned that facial recognition technology in public spaces poses a serious threat to practical anonymity, stating the technology is highly vulnerable to misuse.
Index analysis
The internal memo acknowledged risks to safety and privacy, and Meta considered a limited launch for blind conference attendees, though this plan had not been realized.
Meta stated it is considering various options and will take a cautious approach before launch.
Governance controls
Meta stated the feature would not function as a search tool.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.