Meta is facing a lawsuit in the U.S. regarding its AI smart glasses over allegations of privacy violations, following a report by Swedish newspapers uncovering that workers at a subcontractor in Kenya reviewed footage from customers’ glasses containing sensitive content. Meta claimed to blur faces in images, yet reports questioned the effectiveness of this measure. The U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office is investigating.
In the U.S., plaintiffs Gina Bartone and Mateo Canu assert that Meta misrepresented the privacy features of its glasses, stating in advertisements that they were “designed for privacy.” The lawsuit, spearheaded by Clarkson Law Firm, alleges that Meta and Luxottica of America breached consumer protection laws.
Clarkson Law Firm highlighted the scale, noting that by 2025, over seven million people purchased Meta’s smart glasses. Users cannot opt out of the data pipeline used for footage review. Meta informed news outlets that contractors might review shared content to enhance user experience, referencing its privacy policy and terms of service.
Ads had claimed users controlled which content was shared, emphasizing privacy and security. The growing concern over privacy with new technologies like smart glasses and AI gadgets has sparked public backlash. Meta has not commented on the litigation directly but stated that shared media remains on users’ devices unless voluntarily shared, and contractors are only involved under specific circumstances.
