Smart glasses from Meta and Ray-Ban feature a camera that can take a photo or record a video of whatever the wearer is looking at. If it weren’t for a privacy light that flashes when the camera is in use, you might never know when a smart glasses wearer is recording you without consent. But here’s the interesting part: hardware modders have developed a mod for Meta Ray-Ban glasses that blocks the LED privacy light.
The good news is that Meta acted quickly to resolve this obvious problem. Meta has rolled out a mandatory update that disables the camera whenever the privacy LED is blocked, tampered with, or broken. Additionally, Meta claims to be actively working to remove ads and listings promoting LED tampering services. Action is taken against people or companies selling these services.
This update is a victory for privacy, even if it is small. There are still other privacy concerns surrounding the Meta smart glasses that make them a worrying product for the general public. In February, news broke that Meta planned to add a facial recognition upgrade to smart glasses, which would allow wearers to identify and search for information about people at a glance. Meta has since removed this facial recognition system from its smart glasses due to public outcry, but there’s no guarantee it won’t return.
Has Meta learned its lesson about smart glass privacy?
After modders exploited its cameras and its facial recognition technology was completely rejected by the public, has Meta finally reached a point where it will prioritize privacy in its smart glasses? Meta claims that users are in complete control of their own information, but it was only last month that the company was forced to shut down the aforementioned facial recognition technology. Only time will tell if Meta stays on the right path.
One thing is certain: Meta is still keen to promote its smart glasses to a wider user base. The cheaper standalone Meta glasses are now available, and because this new line has ditched the Ray-Ban collaboration, they cost $160 less than a typical pair of Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 glasses – but with all the same smart features and camera integrations.
More and more consumers can now get their hands on Meta Glasses, so you’ll need to be more careful if you’re concerned about protecting your privacy. It’s obvious when someone points a camera or phone at you, but now you also have to pay attention to every innocuous glance. The update Meta is rolling out should ensure that the privacy light will notify you, but since you never know what modders will come up with next, just be aware of all the ways to tell if someone is recording you with smart glasses.
