Meta scraps facial recognition feature from AI smart glasses after privacy backlash
Meta reportedly planned to add facial recognition to its AI smart glasses but scrapped the feature after public criticism over privacy risks and concerns about commercial collection of biometric data. The underlying glasses with built-in cameras raise broader concerns about unauthorized recording and surveillance in public spaces.
What happened
Wired reported that Meta planned to add facial recognition functionality to its AI-enabled smart glasses sold in collaboration with Ray-Ban since 2023, which already contained built-in cameras for recording.
Meta removed the facial recognition feature after the proposal attracted substantial online criticism over concerns that a commercial company managing a facial recognition database would hold sensitive personal data at scale.
The glasses allow continuous recording in any location and could enable covert documentation of individuals or conversations without consent.
Reported impact
Academic privacy experts expressed concerns that the widespread availability of filming smart glasses fundamentally alters social dynamics by forcing people to assume they are continuously being recorded.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.