Privacy Panic: Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Footage Viewed by Overseas Contractors
A concerning investigative report has revealed that users’ private moments captured through Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are being viewed by unfamiliar individuals across the world. Following the report by a Swedish news outlet, legal actions have begun against Meta in the United States and the United Kingdom, according to Fox News.
The report states that workers at Sama, a contractor company operating in Nairobi, Kenya, review footage recorded by Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses. According to the investigation, the footage has included highly personal moments such as people going to the bathroom, changing clothes, and engaging in sexual activity. One employee claimed that sensitive information, such as bank cards, sometimes appears in the footage. Workers also alleged that the technology designed to blur faces frequently fails, allowing such moments to be seen clearly.
After the report was published, a class-action lawsuit was filed in California, United States, against Meta and its partner company Luxottica. The complaint alleges that the glasses—marketed as being “designed to protect privacy”—actually allow strangers on the other side of the world to view users’ most personal moments. The United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has also launched an investigation into the matter.
Meta, however, has defended its position, stating that it takes appropriate measures to protect privacy. A company spokesperson said, “Ray-Ban Meta glasses help users access AI hands-free. If users do not want to share photos or videos they capture with Meta or others, the content remains on their device.
When users choose to share content with Meta AI, we—like other companies—occasionally employ contractors to review data to improve user experience. We filter data and take measures to protect user privacy.”
It is worth noting that sales of Meta’s smart glasses surpassed 7 million units last year, more than three times the combined sales of the previous two years. Meta has also recently updated its privacy policy so that the AI camera feature remains active until the “Hey Meta” voice command is disabled, while voice recordings are stored in the cloud—raising further concerns.
DBTech/BMT/OR
