Despite being outfitted with some admittedly cool technology, Meta’s AI-powered glasses have unfortunately been used by many for some pretty questionable actions, resulting in them being branded as “Spyware” and more recently, “pervert glasses” by the general public. This has now prompted Meta to roll out updates for the glasses in the hopes of stopping people from using them to covertly record others in public.
While the glasses already refuse to start video capture if the built-in LED indicator is covered, other users have nevertheless worked on finding ways to bypass this protection by hiding the light mid-recording. With the newer update, the camera will automatically shut down if the LED is obscured while an active recording is in progress.
This marks Meta’s second privacy-focused update in under two months, following a previous patch that disabled the camera entirely if the LED was found to be physically damaged. Meta’s VP of AR, Alex Himel, announced the fix on Threads as the company faces growing public outcry over the glasses being used to secretly film and harass bystanders, something that (albeit unsurprisingly) has grown to be a prevalent issue since their launch.
Beyond software patches, Meta is attempting to curb the misuse across its platforms, with Instagram banning accounts tied to covert recording videos. However, the company is still fighting a thriving market of cheap accessories designed to silently block the device’s LED without triggering the software sensors.
Meta is also launching a widespread awareness campaign in major cities where the glasses are popular. The initiative kicked off with a Los Angeles billboard emphasizing that the glasses are “designed for everyone” and “not just the people wearing them,” alongside an image of the illuminated recording light. Meta claims that only a small percentage of individuals are using the glasses for questionable purposes.
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Just earlier this month in the United Kingdom, His Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), which oversees criminal, civil, and family courts in the region, announced that security personnel will hold onto Meta eyewear from anyone entering judicial buildings to prevent covert recording when inside. Confiscated glasses will be returned when visitors exit the premises.