- Meta has introduced a new protection for its smart glasses: the glasses will stop recording if the LED is blocked while a video is already being captured.
- The update closes a loophole where users could start recording first and then obstruct the LED, which was not addressed by the previous safeguard that only prevented starting a recording when the light was covered.
- The change was confirmed by Alex Himel, vice president of augmented reality at Meta, in a post on Threads.
- Himel said Meta would continue improving the glasses to make the indicator more reliable, noting that only a tiny minority of users try to bypass the protections.
- Meta has also published a video explaining how the LED works and reinforcing that when the light is not illuminated, the camera is not capturing content.
- Despite these measures, privacy concerns persist, including reports of people allegedly recorded without knowledge and potential facial recognition capabilities.
- The combination of discreet cameras, AI-powered features and potential biometric applications has therefore put the glasses under growing privacy scrutiny, with campaigns in some places calling for restrictions on their use.
Meta has introduced a significant update to its smart glasses, ensuring they cease recording if the LED indicator is obstructed. This enhancement addresses a previously identified loophole where users could start recording and then cover the light, which was not prevented by earlier safeguards.
According to Alex Himel, vice president of augmented reality at Meta, the company is committed to improving the glasses' privacy features. He noted that only a “tiny minority” of users attempt to bypass these protections, but the new measures are designed to ensure the LED reliably indicates when the camera is active.34
The LED light is crucial to Meta's privacy strategy, as the discreet nature of the glasses makes it easier to record without detection compared to traditional cameras. Meta has also released a video explaining the LED's function, emphasizing that the camera is inactive when the light is off.
Despite these advancements, privacy concerns remain prevalent. Reports have surfaced of individuals being recorded without consent, often in social media pranks. Additionally, speculation about potential facial recognition capabilities has intensified scrutiny over the glasses, with some advocating for restrictions on their use due to the combination of discreet cameras, AI features, and biometric applications.
“Alex Himel, Meta's AR VP, confirmed the change on Threads, noting only a 'tiny minority' try to bypass protections. Despite the update, privacy concerns persist, including reports of alleged covert recordings and potential facial recognition features.”
