Meta tackles privacy concerns surrounding its smart glasses with a new update and marketing strategy.
Meta is enhancing its AI-driven smart glasses to address a loophole that allowed users to continue recording after obscuring the front-facing LED indicator. Alex Himel, Meta’s VP of augmented reality, shared on Threads that “the camera will now stop working if the light is covered during a recording.”
The current model of smart glasses already disables the built-in cameras when the LED capture light, which blinks to signal that recording is in progress, is covered. However, some users discovered they could circumvent this by covering the LED after starting a recording. This update follows a recent change where the glasses automatically turn off the camera if the capture light is physically tampered with.
Himel emphasized the importance of the capture LED in ensuring that bystanders are aware when photos or videos are being taken. “We’re going to keep rolling out updates like this to make sure the capture LED can reliably alert bystanders when photos or videos are being captured for someone’s gallery,” he stated. He noted that only a small number of users attempt to bypass these protections, indicating that the company’s efforts are effective.
Concerns about privacy and harassment have arisen with the use of Meta’s smart glasses, as some users have recorded individuals without consent and filmed social media pranks on unsuspecting bystanders. These issues, along with reports of a potential facial recognition feature, have led to a global backlash against the glasses.
In response, Meta is launching a campaign to raise “awareness” about the LED capture light in communities where the glasses have gained popularity. A billboard currently displayed in Los Angeles features the smart glasses with the message, “The camera lets you capture the moment. The light lets everyone around you know when you do.” A video from Meta reinforces this message, stating that the capture LED “signals when the glasses are capturing photos and videos,” and that “no light” means “no capture.”
