Smart Glasses: A New Way to Spy on You?

Meta, the company behind Facebook, is planning to add facial recognition to its smart glasses. While this is not surprising, it raises significant concerns.

The Plan and Risks

Meta has been working on this feature for a year, despite knowing the risks. The company believes users will be too preoccupied with other tasks to notice or care.

The Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta smart glasses could include this feature. However, it's unclear whether it will be added to existing models or introduced in new ones. Meta states it is considering the implications carefully.

Potential Benefits and Broader Goals

Meta suggests the feature could assist individuals with face recognition difficulties. However, the company's ambitions extend further. It aims to make the glasses "super sensing," meaning they could record continuously, not just when prompted. The data would be processed by an AI assistant to aid in daily tasks.

Privacy Concerns

The biggest issue is privacy. The glasses could record without users' knowledge. Even if a recording light is present, it could be obscured, leading to increased surveillance.

Meta's Government Ties

Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has maintained a close relationship with the government. The company has won significant legal battles and understands how to navigate regulatory challenges. It's plausible that Meta could share data from the glasses with government agencies.

A Return to Facial Recognition

This isn't Meta's first foray into facial recognition. The company previously used it on Facebook but discontinued the feature in 2021. Now, it's back with a new strategy.