A backlash is emerging against smart glasses that record without clear indicators, raising concerns over privacy and consent. Critics argue these devices, like those developed by a Harvard-educated startup, could enable covert surveillance, sparking outrage online.
The controversy has intensified with social media users and privacy advocates expressing significant alarm. A startup, originally founded by Harvard dropouts, has sparked controversy with its AI-powered glasses that continuously listen to conversations and provide insights. The controversy has drawn reactions from privacy lawyers and social media users who fear the potential for invasive surveillance. Despite the backlash, Meta’s smart glasses, which include a light to indicate recording, have already sold millions of units globally.
The article highlights the growing concern among Gen Z who grew up in an internet era defined by poor personal privacy. These young people are leading the backlash against smart glasses’ intrusion into everyday life. Opal Nelson, a 22-year-old in New York, said the more she learns about smart glasses, the angrier she becomes. Meta Ray-Bans have a light that turns on when the gadget is recording video, but she said it doesn’t seem to protect people from being recorded without consent. “And now there’s more and more tutorials showing people how to cover up the [warning light] and still allow you to record,” Nelson said. In one such tutorial with more than 900,000 views, a man claims to explain how to cover the warning light on Meta Ray-Bans without triggering the sensor that prevents the device from secretly recording.
A 26-year-old attracted 10 million views to their video on TikTok about the spread of Meta’s photography-capable smart glasses. “People specifically in my generation are pretty concerned about the future of technology,” the told the Post, “and what that means for all of us and our privacy.” The article cites figures from a devices analyst at IDC who estimates U.S. sales for Meta Ray-Bans will hit 4 million units by the end of 2025, compared to 1.2 million in 2024.