Smart glasses are 'an invasion of privacy' - Meta's are selling better than ever

"Women leaving the beach, going into a shop, or simply standing outside are now being approached by men usually wearing Meta's Ray-Bans, the company's "smart" or "AI" glasses, often in order to film the women's responses to casual questions or pick-up lines without their knowledge or consent. The women only find out about the videos of them after they gain traction, and often abuse, online. They have little legal recourse as photography in public is broadly considered legal."

"Meta's glasses are currently the most popular on the market, estimated to make up more than 80% of all AI or smart glasses sales, as the company was the first major tech player to launch such a product in recent years. Made in partnership with EssilorLuxottica and offering the classic look of Ray-Bans, the glasses feature an almost invisible camera in the frames, small speakers in the arms, and lenses that can show a wearer some information."

"People can start recording video or take a photo with a casual touch of the frames. The nature of the camera in Meta's glasses can be so unobtrusive that even their wearers have been caught off guard by what and when they're recording, and where those recordings are going. After workers in Kenya, tasked with watching videos made through Meta's glasses to create AI training data for the company, said they were being required to watch graphic content like sex and bathroom usage, people who own the glasses filed two lawsuits."

"In one, people said they had no idea such videos had been made. In the other, they said they did not know their videos were being shared by the company for rev"

Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are widely sold and are used to record photos and video with minimal notice. The glasses include an almost invisible camera, small speakers, and lenses that can display information, and they can start recording with a casual touch. Women have reported being approached by men wearing the glasses who film responses to questions or pick-up lines without consent, with victims learning only after videos spread online. Public photography is broadly legal, leaving limited legal options. Some owners and workers have raised concerns about undisclosed recording and about graphic content being used for AI training data, leading to lawsuits alleging lack of knowledge and improper sharing.

Read at www.bbc.com