Meta smart glasses sell fast despite privacy fears

https://www.azernews.az/region/258356.html

Publish Date: 2026-05-13 15:26:00

By Alimat Aliyeva

Concerns surrounding the new generation of “smart glasses”
continue to grow, even as major technology companies prepare to
sell millions of devices worldwide in the coming years,
AzerNEWS reports, citing foreign media.

In recent months, incidents involving Meta’s Ray-Ban smart
glasses have sparked public debate over privacy and consent. Women
at beaches, shops, and public spaces have reported being secretly
filmed by men using the AI-powered glasses, often during casual
conversations or unsolicited attempts at flirting. In many cases,
the recordings later appeared online and attracted widespread
attention — including harassment and abusive comments.

Several women said they only discovered the videos after they
went viral on social media. Because filming in public spaces is
generally legal in many countries, victims often have limited legal
options. One woman told the BBC that when she asked for a secretly
recorded video of her to be removed, the person who uploaded it
allegedly responded that deletion was “a paid service.”

Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses currently dominate the market,
accounting for an estimated 80% of global smart-glasses sales.
Developed in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the glasses combine
the familiar Ray-Ban design with discreet built-in technology,
including nearly invisible cameras, open-ear speakers, and
AI-powered features.

Users can begin recording videos or taking photos with a simple
touch on the frame, making the device much less noticeable than
traditional cameras or smartphones. Critics argue that this
convenience also creates serious ethical and privacy concerns, as
people nearby may not realize they are being filmed.

The controversy deepened after reports emerged that workers in
Kenya, hired to review content captured through the glasses for AI
training purposes, were exposed to disturbing footage, including
explicit and highly private material. The revelations led…

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