Meta AI glasses are by far the most popular smart glasses on the market as millions of people buy into the trend each year, increasing the likelihood that individuals may be secretly recorded while going about their daily lives. Some public spaces including schools, courts, restaurants, and entertainment venues have begun banning the devices, with even the hackers behind DEF CON 2026 reportedly prohibiting smart glasses with no exceptions.
However, these bans face enforcement challenges. Spotting smart glasses can require tech-savvy security staff, and many venues rely on users voluntarily disclosing their devices or watchful observers to report violations. Privacy advocates argue that increasing social friction around nonconsensual recording cannot stop the practice alone without comprehensive consumer privacy laws.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has warned that Meta appears prepared to make the technology even more invasive to sell more glasses and stay ahead of competitors. EFF staff technologist Cooper Quintin told Ars that potential new features such as facial recognition could raise the stakes further, potentially enabling devices to create deepfakes or nonconsensual intimate imagery. EFF has released a guide for smart-glasses users on resisting facial recognition and responsible recording habits, urging users to blur strangers' faces before posting online.
Quintin described Meta's current safety feature—a tiny recording light that can be easily covered with a sticker—as nearly useless for deterring bad actors, including stalkers or those secretly recording women in public or private spaces. The technology has also controversially been used in immigration raids.