Meta updates Ray-Ban smart glasses with new privacy feature
Meta updates Ray-Ban smart glasses with new privacy feature
Publish Date: 2026-07-13 11:19:00
Source Domain: www.al.com
Meta is introducing a new privacy safeguard for its Ray-Ban smart glasses after some users found ways to bypass the device’s recording indicator.
The Meta Glasses update disables its camera if the glasses detect that the white LED light, which flashes while photos or videos are being captured, has been physically tampered with or destroyed. The feature is intended to prevent people from secretly recording others by disabling the visual recording indicator.
“We’re continuously improving our ability to detect tampering, and now we’re updating the glasses to disable the camera if they detect the LED was physically tampered with or destroyed,” Meta said in a blog post. “No other kind of camera has done this and we’re proud to lead the industry forward.”
The company says every pair of Meta AI glasses includes a white “capture LED” on the front of the frame. The light briefly flashes when a photo is taken and continues blinking while video is recording. According to Meta, the LED “has no off switch.”
Beginning with the second generation of the glasses, Meta says the camera already stopped working if the recording light was covered. The latest update allows the glasses to detect more sophisticated attempts to modify or destroy the light altogether.
The change comes as smart glasses continue to grow in popularity while raising new questions about privacy in public spaces. Because the devices can capture photos and videos hands-free, critics have expressed concerns that people could record others without their knowledge if the recording light was disabled.
Meta acknowledged those concerns in its announcement, saying the company chose a white recording light because it offered “the best combination of visibility and experience” after extensive testing. The company added that it continues to work with outside experts and incorporate customer feedback as it develops new privacy features.
The update also targets businesses and individuals advertising…
