Meta Smart Glasses Creeps Now Have One Less Way to Be Creepy
Meta has updated the firmware for its smart glasses to prevent users from obscuring the 'capture LED' after recording has already started. This move aims to address privacy concerns regarding secret recording, though critics argue the light remains easily bypassed.
Why it matters
As wearable camera technology becomes more common, the effectiveness of privacy safeguards is a major point of contention for consumer safety and surveillance ethics.
When Meta launched its increasingly popular smart glasses , it gave them one small line of defense against becoming full-on spy glasses: the “capture LED,” Meta’s terminology for the LED that lights up when you’re capturing pictures or videos.
It was a small gesture, but an important one, and in theory, it could prevent other people from being recorded discreetly or at least do bystanders the small service of tipping them off. The problems with the capture LED are still numerous, but one major issue has been the the fact that it’s easily subverted.
Until recently, users were able to sidestep the capture LED with full-on DIY drill-outs that removed the light entirely, though Meta has since tamped down on those workarounds. The company has also reportedly closed another loophole on the list, and this one seems like a no-brainer.
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