Meta Accelerates Smart Glasses Rollout Amid Privacy Concerns Over Covert Recording

Meta is rapidly advancing its AI-powered smart glasses as part of Mark Zuckerberg's vision to establish them as the next major platform after smartphones. The company has launched new models in collaboration with Ray-Ban and Oakley, priced between approximately $299 and $800. Meta is promoting these glasses through executives, celebrities, and content creators. Over the past year, Meta sold around 7 million pairs, tripling sales from the previous year and securing its position as the global market leader in smart glasses.

Despite commercial success, the product faces sharp criticism from civil rights groups and privacy advocates. They warn about the risk of individuals being recorded or photographed in public spaces without their knowledge, especially if the indicator light is hidden or disabled. Controversial features under development include facial recognition and memory, continuous audio and video recording, and technology designed to analyze the user's mood. Meta states that some of these capabilities have not yet been released and emphasizes its commitment to protecting the privacy of users and those around them.