Meta says AI glasses fix stops users from secretly recording others

Meta has introduced privacy enhancements to its AI-powered glasses following concerns that users were recording individuals without their consent. The glasses feature an LED light to indicate when filming begins. Previously, users could cover the light to disable the recording function, but Meta has now updated the system so that recording stops if the light is obstructed during a recording session.

This move has already led to the shutdown of companies providing LED tampering services, as the camera automatically deactivates when tampering is detected, according to Meta.

The issue came to light in August when a woman discovered a video of herself being filmed by a man wearing the glasses, without her knowledge or consent. In a test conducted by CBS News, it was found that an earlier version of the disabling feature did not work if the light was covered after the recording had started. Meta has since implemented a more robust security measure that deactivates recording whenever tampering is detected.

Alex Himel, Meta's vice president of wearables, stated that the company intends to continue rolling out updates to ensure the LED light can reliably alert bystanders when photos or videos are being captured. Meta has also launched an educational campaign to raise awareness about the glasses' capabilities and their use. The company has taken several steps to address privacy concerns, including removing online posts providing instructions on how to tamper with the glasses, removing harassing posts related to certain content, and blocking search terms and hashtags associated with inappropriate content.