Meta smart glasses face German privacy complaint over covert recording

MUMBAI: The glasses may be smart, but Germany wants to know just how discreet they can be. Digital rights organisation HateAid has filed a criminal complaint against Meta and companies involved in selling its AI-powered smart glasses, alleging that the devices could allow people to be recorded without their knowledge.

The complaint centres on the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer smart glasses, which combine conventional eyewear with recording and AI-enabled features. HateAid argues that their sale in Germany violates federal data protection rules because people nearby may not know when they are being filmed.

The organisation filed the complaint with Frankfurt-based cybercrime prosecution unit ZIT, naming Meta, units of eyewear major EssilorLuxottica including Ray-Ban, as well as retailers Fielmann, Apollo-Optik, Mister Spex and MediaMarkt.

At the heart of the complaint is the visibility of recording. HateAid argues that German law prohibits the sale of communication devices designed to film people without their awareness, and that placing surveillance technology inside an everyday consumer product could create additional privacy risks.

HateAid Managing Director Josephine Ballon said smart glasses can make it difficult for people to establish whether they are being recorded, raising concerns around image-based abuse and digital violence. The organisation said it has seen an increase in cases involving image-based harassment, particularly against women.

The group also argued that the technology could make it harder for people in public spaces to avoid being filmed and potentially having that footage shared online.

ZIT has confirmed receiving the complaint and will conduct a preliminary assessment to determine whether there are grounds for a deeper investigation. No formal investigation has been announced at this stage.

Germany’s Federal Network Agency, BNetzA, meanwhile, said it is monitoring the smart glasses market but has not opened a formal investigation. The regulator noted that smart glasses are not prohibited as long as recording functions are clearly indicated, such as through a visible optical signal.

The complaint also puts retailers under scrutiny. MediaMarkt said it takes the allegations seriously and expects products supplied to it to comply with applicable laws. Mister Spex said it had not received formal notification of the complaint but stressed its commitment to protecting privacy.

The case highlights a growing tension around wearable AI: the more seamlessly cameras disappear into everyday objects, the harder it may become for bystanders to know when a lens is looking their way.