Meta is currently facing a new lawsuit regarding the privacy implications of its AI smart glasses. This legal challenge follows an investigation by Swedish newspapers, which revealed that employees of a Kenya-based subcontractor were reviewing sensitive footage captured by customers' glasses. This content reportedly included intimate moments such as nudity, sexual activity, and individuals using the toilet.
While Meta previously asserted that faces in images were being blurred, reports indicated that sources disputed the consistent effectiveness of this blurring technology. These revelations subsequently prompted the U.K. regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office, to launch its own investigation into the matter.
The tech giant now confronts a lawsuit in the United States as well. The newly filed complaint, brought by plaintiffs Gina Bartone of New Jersey and Mateo Canu of California and represented by the public interest-focused Clarkson Law Firm, alleges that Meta has violated privacy laws and engaged in deceptive advertising practices.
The complaint specifically highlights how Meta AI smart glasses are marketed with assurances like “designed for privacy, controlled by you” and “built for your privacy.” The plaintiffs argue that such messaging would not lead customers to expect that footage from their glasses, including highly personal moments, would be subject to review by overseas workers. They state they relied on Meta's marketing and observed no disclaimers or information that contradicted these advertised privacy protections.
The lawsuit accuses both Meta and its glasses manufacturing partner, Luxottica of America, of conduct that contravenes consumer protection laws. Meta has not yet provided a response to TechCrunch's request for comment on these allegations.
Clarkson Law Firm, known for filing significant lawsuits against major tech entities including Apple, Google, and OpenAI, underscores the potential scale of the issue. The firm notes that in 2025, over seven million people purchased Meta’s smart glasses, implying that their captured footage is channeled into a data review pipeline from which users cannot opt out.
In a statement to the BBC, Meta explained that when users share content with Meta AI, it utilizes contractors to review this information to enhance user experience with the glasses, a practice it claims is outlined in its privacy policy. The company referred to its Supplemental Meta Platforms Terms of Service but did not specify the exact location of this disclosure. The BBC, however, located a mention of human review within Meta’s U.K. AI terms of service.
A version of that policy applicable to the U.S. explicitly states: “In some cases, Meta will review your interactions with AIs, including the content of your conversations with or messages to AIs, and this review may be automated or manual (human).”
The core of the complaint primarily focuses on the marketing strategies employed for the glasses, presenting examples of advertisements that emphasized privacy benefits, detailed privacy settings, and an “added layer of security.”
One particular advertisement declared, “You’re in control of your data and content,” further explaining that smart glasses owners could choose what content was shared with others.
The proliferation of smart glasses and other forms of "luxury surveillance" technology, such as always-listening AI pendants, has triggered a widespread negative reaction. This concern is exemplified by one developer who released an application designed to detect the presence of nearby smart glasses.
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