- Meta's smart glasses, which can record video while being worn, have faced a vicious backlash, particularly relating to concerns about surveillance, earning them the label of 'pervert glasses'.
- On Friday, Attorney-General Rowland said she had already written to the independent Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) to look into privacy concerns related to inappropriate recording, harassment, surveillance, or other harmful conduct.
- The backlash peaked when Kylie Jenner collaborated with Meta to launch a pair, leading to a flurry of influencers showing off their trendy, Kardashian-approved goggles, and some content creators have been forced to apologise for plugging the specs.
- Influencer Rida Tharana, who has 1.6 million followers on Instagram, criticized men who misuse the glasses to 'record and harass women'.
- Influencer Hooson, who lost a 'good 50 to 100' followers after posting a video with the glasses, supports the backlash and calls the term 'pervert glasses' a 'defence mechanism' to dissuade people from using them.
- Despite the backlash, the glasses sold 7 million pairs in 2025 alone, and Meta says the tiny, flashing LED light that activates on the glasses will let people know when they are being filmed.
- There are widespread fears about the glasses being used to film people, especially women, without their consent, and the resultant footage being posted on social media.
- Self-described pickup artists have used the glasses to film themselves trying to chat up women in public without their knowledge, sometimes making disparaging, misogynistic comments afterwards.
- A Meta spokesperson defended the glasses, stating they were designed with privacy and safety features built in from the start, including an LED light and tamper detection technology.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has emphasized the need for a swift review of privacy issues linked to smart glasses, particularly those from Meta, which have been criticized for their potential to infringe on personal privacy.
The glasses, capable of recording video, have been labeled as 'pervert glasses' due to fears they could be used to film individuals without consent, especially women.1278
Rowland has reached out to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) to investigate these privacy concerns, which include inappropriate recording and harassment.3
The backlash intensified after Kylie Jenner promoted the glasses, leading to influencers facing significant criticism. Some, like Rida Tharana, have publicly condemned the misuse of the glasses, stating they enable men to record and harass women.45
Despite the controversy, Meta reported selling 7 million pairs in 2025, indicating a strong market presence. A Meta spokesperson defended the product, highlighting built-in privacy features, including an LED light that activates when recording. However, many users have reported being filmed without their knowledge, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of these measures.910
As the debate continues, the future of smart glasses remains uncertain, with public sentiment heavily influenced by the ongoing discussions about privacy and consent.
“Rowland has already written to the OAIC to investigate inappropriate recording, harassment, and surveillance. Meta's glasses sold 7m pairs in 2025 despite the backlash, and the company defends its LED light and tamper detection as built-in privacy features.”
The Mandarin
The Guardian
