German organization sues Meta over smart glasses, unease grows in other countries

A German human rights organization is taking technology giant Meta to court, seeking a ban on the sale of its "Wayfarer Gen 2" smart glasses. The non-profit group, HateAid, which campaigns against online hate, argues that the glasses are designed to be indistinguishable from regular eyewear and can film people without their knowledge or consent.

HateAid has filed a complaint against Meta, along with eyewear brands Ray-Ban and Oakley, and several German opticians. The organization's goal is to remove the "Wayfarer Gen 2" glasses from the German market. These smart glasses are equipped with a built-in camera, microphone, and an AI voice assistant, allowing users to access information and dictate messages hands-free. The ability to capture photos and videos discreetly raises concerns about secret recordings.

"Whether on the subway, at work, or in the sauna. The way smart glasses work today, you are no longer safe anywhere," stated HateAid CEO Josephine Ballon. The organization advocates for smart glasses to be sold only if they are clearly distinguishable from regular glasses. While Meta's glasses feature an LED light that illuminates during recording, critics question its visibility, especially in bright sunlight or from a distance. Jurist and AI researcher Eulaly Vanroelen notes that the light can be easily obscured or the system hacked to prevent it from activating.

Meta maintains that the LED light serves as a warning to bystanders. Recent models include security features designed to detect tampering with the recording indicator. However, Vanroelen suggests that informing people is insufficient when their image is being captured. Concerns about the privacy implications of smart glasses are escalating across Europe, with the European Union expected to release a report this summer detailing potential additional measures needed to address these issues.

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Is het nu op de metro, op je werk of in de sauna. Door de manier waarop slimme brillen vandaag werken, ben je nergens meer veilig