German advocacy group lodges criminal complaint over Meta AI glasses

In Germany, a digital rights advocacy group called HateAid has filed a criminal complaint against Meta and other companies selling AI glasses, alleging the devices breach privacy laws. The complaint focuses on the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer glasses, which HateAid claims enable covert filming and online exposure without consent. Josephine Ballon, HateAid's managing director, warned that smart glasses can never fully escape surveillance.

She reported the case to the Frankfurt-based digital crime prosecution unit ZIT, which is investigating the complaint. HateAid's complaint stems from federal data protection laws prohibiting the sale of communication devices capable of filming people without their knowledge. The Federal Network Agency, BNetzA, has stated that connected devices for covert recording are currently banned but are closely monitoring the smart glasses market.

The other companies involved in the complaint have either acknowledged receiving the complaint or affirmed their commitment to complying with privacy laws.