August M
Privacy concerns surrounding smart glasses are growing as devices equipped with hidden cameras become increasingly common in public spaces.
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Despite criticism from researchers, lawyers and users, Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses continue to gain popularity, with millions of pairs already sold worldwide.
Hidden recording
BBC reporting highlighted cases where women were unknowingly filmed by people wearing Meta’s smart glasses before videos later appeared online.
Some recordings reportedly showed women being approached in public places, including beaches and shops, without their knowledge or consent.
One woman told the BBC she asked for a secretly recorded video of herself to be removed, only to be told deletion was “a paid service”.
Growing concerns
Meta’s glasses, developed with EssilorLuxottica, include a discreet camera built into the frame alongside speakers and AI features.
According to the BBC, even some owners of the glasses have been surprised by what was recorded and where footage was later shared.
Meta previously faced lawsuits after workers in Kenya reviewing videos for AI training said they had been exposed to graphic material, including nudity and bathroom footage recorded through the glasses.
Sales surge
Despite the controversy, Meta says more than seven million pairs have been sold.
“They’re some of the fastest-growing consumer electronics in history,” Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said earlier this year.
Meta spokesman Tracy Clayton told the BBC that users should act responsibly when using the technology.
“We have teams dedicated to limiting and combating misuse, but as with any technology, the onus is ultimately on individual people to not actively exploit it.”
Industry expansion
Other major technology companies are now preparing rival products.
The BBC reported that Apple is developing its own smart glasses, while Snap plans to launch updated Specs devices later this year. Google is also revisiting the category years after abandoning Google Glass following privacy backlash.
Experts warn that widespread adoption could make it harder to enforce restrictions on recording in sensitive locations such as hospitals, courts and cinemas.
Privacy backlash
David Harris, a former Meta AI researcher who now advises on AI policy, told the BBC the technology risks triggering stronger public resistance.
“Technology like this is fundamentally an invasion of privacy and it’s really going to face more and more backlash,” he said.
Concerns intensified after reports that Meta may eventually introduce facial recognition features, potentially allowing wearers not only to film strangers discreetly but also identify them instantly.
Sources: BBC, Meta, ProPublica
