What Do We Do About the Cameras Everywhere?
A genuine reckoning with Meta and the surveillance state
Mia Sato, a reporter at The Verge, joins host Charlie Warzel to discuss the rise of Meta smart glasses and their impact on privacy and daily life. Meta initially released the glasses in 2021, partnering with Ray-Ban, and aimed to make them look like regular eyewear. The glasses allowed users to record short videos, listen to music, and take calls, with the footage shared on Meta's platforms.
However, the product faced criticism over privacy concerns, and Meta later added AI features that could describe a user's surroundings. By 2026, the glasses had become more popular, yet they continued to be used inappropriately, such as filming women on the street for pickup artist videos and being present in various private settings.
The backlash against the devices, including negative mentions by celebrities, has not stopped their sales, leading to a potential reckoning for both Meta and society as a whole.
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
