Should tech events ban Meta’s smart glasses?

Meta’s popular AI glasses, featuring embedded cameras for discreet recording, have sparked controversy after reports emerged of covertly recording individuals without consent. The glasses have been nicknamed "pervert glasses" or "stalkerware" by critics, with a London activist group even creating a mock ad featuring a sex offender wearing them.

Thousands of signatures have been gathered in a petition calling for a ban on the technology in the UK and Ireland. UK cinemas are considering a ban amid piracy concerns, and Wetherspoons, a major pub chain, has effectively banned the glasses in their establishments. Defcon, an annual hacker convention in Las Vegas, has already banned the AI glasses due to their controversial nature and security concerns.

However, organizers of tech events are divided on whether to ban the glasses entirely. Some argue that banning the devices could be exclusionary for visually impaired individuals, while others believe it is essential to address the privacy and consent issues surrounding the technology. Some events, like the HumanX conference in Amsterdam, will not ban the glasses, while others, such as Rebase in Dublin, are effectively banning them from an invitation-only gathering.

Event organizers are considering alternative approaches, such as requiring explicit opt-in consent for ambient recording. The debate on how to handle the privacy concerns surrounding Meta’s AI glasses at tech events continues.