Worrying about Google Glassholes seems almost quaint in comparison.
As privacy concerns mount over Meta’s smart glasses, one nonprofit is taking matters into its own hands. German human rights group HateAid filed a criminal complaint against Meta. He basically argues that putting discreet cameras in people’s faces may not be a good idea.
HateAid claims that Meta’s smart glasses violate German privacy laws: in particular the Telecommunications, Digital Services and Data Protection Act. He argues that the sale of these devices constitutes a criminal offense because of their secret recording capabilities.
The nonprofit also wants restrictions on where glasses can record, similar to the rules for dashcams and bodycams. The complaint targets Meta, eyewear partners Ray-Ban and Oakley and several retailers.
A Meta spokesperson said EU Policywho first reported the story that its smart glasses were “built with privacy guarantees from the ground up that go beyond what any smartphone offers.” The glasses feature an LED that flashes while recording, as well as software that blocks use of the camera if it detects tampering with the LED, such as a piece of electrical tape. However, several companies have begun selling aftermarket accessories designed to block light without triggering Meta’s protective measures. Let the arms race begin.
The biggest privacy problem
Part of the problem is that privacy settings primarily protect the person who purchased the glasses. What about everyone around them – some of whom don’t even realize the glasses might have cameras, let alone notice the LED? These viewers have not agreed to Meta’s terms or reviewed its privacy policies. And what happens as these devices become more advanced and ubiquitous? It’s no surprise that someone has tried to stay ahead of the game with an app that notifies you when a pair is nearby.
And concerns about where this is headed aren’t exactly hypothetical. In June, Meta quietly removed dormant facial recognition code from its smart glasses companion app after Wired I discovered it.
Then there’s what happens to images and videos when they leave the glasses. Regular photos and videos stay on the user’s device unless cloud storage or sharing is enabled, but AI features are a different story. Ask Meta AI, arguably the glasses’ flagship feature, about something you’re looking at, and information about your surroundings is sent to Meta for processing. The company employs third-party contractors to review and label some of these interactions for AI training.
Some of these entrepreneurs claim to have encountered worrying elements. Earlier this year, a Swedish newspaper reported that entrepreneurs in Kenya performing AI annotations had seen intimate and sensitive material captured with the glasses. This allegedly included nudity, toilet images, sexual acts, credit card numbers and other private information.
