Privacy concerns and public backlash swirl around Meta’s Ray‑Ban smart glasses

Meta’s Ray‑Ban smart glasses record video and audio that stay on the device unless users enable cloud backup, in which case the files are kept on Meta’s servers for a month. AI‑driven features such as Live AI capture images for analysis, and those images may be reviewed by external contractors; voice interactions are transcribed and saved, with EU users able to opt out while U.S. users cannot fully disable the collection.

The glasses include an LED that flashes during recording, though reports note the light can be muted. Critics have labeled the product “pervert glasses” after viral videos showed strangers being filmed, and the controversy has drawn commentary from public figures and warnings from market researchers about potential sales impact.