Two American Democratic senators, Ron Wyden and Ed Markey, have launched an investigation into the privacy risks associated with Meta's AI-powered smart glasses. In their letter to the company, the two lawmakers argue that the product was launched despite Meta having already identified the dangers to people standing next to those wearing them.
The problem, according to the senators, does not only concern the wearer of the glasses. Passersby are also in the crosshairs, being filmed without their knowledge. Among the cited incidents are men secretly filming women with so-called "pervert glasses" and then posting the videos on social media after harassing them. Another front is also recalled: judicial documentation and several investigations reveal that contractors working for Meta on AI training may have viewed recordings of people undressing or having sexual intercourse.
The questions addressed to Meta touch upon several points. The senators ask whether the cameras can be activated by mistake and whether the LED that signals recording can be tampered with. They want to know if the glasses blur faces and license plates in certain AI functions, as already occurs on Facebook and Instagram. They also ask under what circumstances images are accessible to employees or external collaborators and when they are used to train models. Finally, based on Meta's internal documents, they ask whether the company conducted human rights risk assessments and safety tests before the launch. Responses are expected by Thanksgiving, November 26, 2026.
The list of reports is long. In addition to the cases cited by the senators, some users claim that the glasses recorded conversations without consent following a firmware update. The device has also appeared in law enforcement raids, and according to reports, the New York Police Department's anti-terrorism unit has expressed concerns regarding surveillance. In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom blocked a law that would have prohibited the use of these devices for covert recording in private commercial premises.
Wyden and Markey, however, seem intent on not letting the matter drop. In their letter addressed to Mark Zuckerberg, they write that Meta's declared commitment to privacy and against the abuse of intimate images rings hollow if the company does not demonstrate that it is taking concrete steps to prevent its products from facilitating such harm.
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