With smart glasses, Meta holds all the cards but fails to play them well
Meta is facing backlash over its smart glasses, with activists labeling them a privacy threat and users tampering with the devices to bypass privacy lights. In response, Meta is implementing software updates to disable cameras on tampered devices and tightening content moderation policies.
Why it matters
The controversy underscores the tension between wearable technology innovation and individual privacy rights in public spaces.
Across New York City, London, and Washington, DC, ads for Meta’s smart glasses have been plastered over with satirical posters from activist groups. One guerrilla ad calls these “the biggest advancement in pervert technology since the trenchcoat.” Another transposes the words “mass surveillance predator glasses” over influencer Kylie Jenner’s face, calling her out for partnering with the company as a glasses ambassador.
The message of these ads is clear. These glasses may violate your privacy — and would you trust Meta?
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