Meta smart glasses face privacy backlash over face recognition and recording
Meta's AI-powered smart glasses equipped with cameras faced public backlash over concerns that the company planned to use the devices for automatic face recognition at scale and fears they could be used to record people without consent. In response, Meta reportedly planned to release a camera-free version of the glasses.
What happened
Meta's AI-powered smart glasses, developed in partnership with Ray-Ban, came equipped with microphones, speakers, cameras and—for new models—tiny built-in displays, and reportedly led to millions of sales.
It was rumoured that Meta had plans to use the devices' cameras for automatic face recognition on a mass scale and had downloaded necessary code to the glasses. Public backlash was immediate, extending beyond face recognition concerns to include worries about actors using the specs to record illicit videos without consent.
Reported impact
Critics labelled the devices 'pervert glasses,' viewing them as unethical technology used by people with ill intentions, with some calling for an outright ban on the devices.
Index analysis
The glasses reportedly contained the capability to perform automatic face recognition at scale based on downloaded code, and the devices' built-in cameras created potential for non-consensual video recording.
Governance controls
In response to privacy criticism, Meta reportedly planned to release a camera-free version of the smart glasses, called Luna, that would retain microphones, speakers, and a dedicated button for the AI chatbot while removing the cameras.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.