Meta is set to introduce smart glasses that do not feature a camera, responding to growing concerns about privacy linked to its Ray-Ban Meta glasses. This information comes from sources familiar with the company's plans, as reported by The Information.
The device, codenamed Luna, is expected to be available for purchase as early as October, although it has not yet been officially announced by the company.
Unlike the previous models, Luna will lack a camera. Instead, it will be equipped with six microphones for voice interactions with Meta AI and a personal AI assistant named Muse, which can be activated using a button on the temple of the glasses. The new glasses will also include speakers similar to those found in the current Ray-Ban Meta line, while the temples will be slimmer. There are two design variations being developed, known as Clubmaster and Burbank.
According to sources, Luna may be unveiled at the upcoming Meta Connect conference scheduled for September 23-24.
Criticism Surrounding Meta's Glasses
The Ray-Ban Meta glasses resemble ordinary eyewear but include a camera, which is indicated by a small white light on the frame when recording is in progress.
In January, journalists from BBC found numerous videos on TikTok and Instagram showing men approaching women and allegedly recording them discreetly using Meta glasses.
Seven women from the UK, US, and Australia reported to the publication that they only discovered the recordings after the videos were posted online.
One video featuring 21-year-old Dilara from London garnered 1.3 million views. The video revealed her phone number, resulting in her receiving calls and messages for weeks, with some viewers even visiting her workplace.
Another woman was filmed during a conversation at a beach in West Sussex. Two videos amassed 6.9 million views on TikTok and over 100,000 likes on Instagram, where she inadvertently shared details about her job and family, unaware that the camera was on.
At the time, Meta pointed to the recording indicator and a system designed to prevent its blockage. However, the BBC found online instructions that detailed how to disable or obscure the LED indicator.
None of the interviewed women noticed the warning signal.
In July, Meta announced it would enhance its privacy measures. The second-generation glasses will automatically turn off the camera if the system detects that the indicator light is blocked.
This update is also intended to identify any physical damage or removal of the indicator.
"We are continuously improving our ability to detect tampering. Now, the glasses will disable the camera if they detect that the indicator has been physically altered or destroyed," Meta stated.
The company also pledged to remove advertisements, posts, and service offers that promote bypassing these protections, block related accounts, and take legal action against sellers of such modifications.
Government Interest in Meta's Glasses
In May, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Meta. The office is examining whether the company misled consumers regarding the collection of recordings, facial images, and other personal data.
The concerns raised were not limited to the recording of bystanders. In March, Meta faced a class-action lawsuit related to the transmission of materials sent by users of Meta AI to contractors in Kenya. Reports from Swedish media indicated that this material included intimate recordings and images of bank cards.
In August, the German human rights organization HateAid filed a complaint against Meta, the owner of Ray-Ban, and the glasses' sellers, claiming that the device allows for covert recording of individuals and violates local data protection regulations. The prosecutor's office confirmed that a preliminary investigation is underway.
Australia is also considering a ban on camera-equipped glasses in government buildings. Similar devices have already been restricted in schools in Oslo and in courts in England and Wales.
It is worth noting that in March, an app was launched for Android that detects smart glasses, searching for devices from Meta, Snap, and other manufacturers via Bluetooth signals, though it does not confirm whether recording is taking place at that moment.