Meta has announced a new software update for its smart glasses that will disable the camera if it detects that the device's privacy LED light has been tampered with or destroyed. The update aims to address growing concerns over privacy, particularly regarding users who modify their glasses to record others without their knowledge.
The privacy LED is a small light on the frame that glows when the glasses are recording video. However, some users, known as "modders," have gone so far as to physically drill into the light to disable it completely. Meta has previously tried to prevent users from blocking the light. On its second-generation glasses, if the sensor detects the light is covered with tape or other objects, the device prompts the user to uncover it. Despite this, modders have found workarounds to bypass these restrictions.
According to Alex Himel, Meta’s vice president of wearables, the company has been aware of the growing misuse of these devices as they become more widely adopted. The upcoming privacy-focused update was planned around the time Meta released a cheaper version of its smart glasses without the Ray-Ban branding.
This update comes amid increasing public scrutiny and concern over the privacy implications of smart glasses. Recently, Meta has faced online criticism over reports that it plans to add facial recognition technology to its wearables. There have also been reports of bad actors using the glasses to harass young women in public spaces.
These privacy issues have prompted various institutions to take action. New York State is set to ban camera-equipped glasses from all of its courtrooms later this month, following similar bans in Philadelphia courts. Additionally, several cruise lines have restricted the use of smart glasses in common areas. By implementing the new camera-disabling update, Meta hopes to curb the misuse of its technology and address public concerns about privacy.