Meta Says Smart Glasses Recording Issue Resolved After Reddit Complaints

Recording Without a Prompt

A Reddit user has reported that their Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses recorded conversations without the "Hey Meta" voice prompt. The user said the issue occurred on three different pairs of Meta smart glasses, including devices from different generations. According to the post, the glasses picked up conversations even when recording was not enabled, and the captured audio was saved in the Meta AI app as recordings and text transcripts.

The user stated that the "Respond without Hey Meta" feature was turned off and that they had not activated it during the affected conversations. They also noted that the white notification light began activating after a firmware update.

Meta's Response

After contacting Meta support, the user was advised to disable microphone and camera permissions, turn off Wear Detection, delete voice history, and disable automatic updates. Meta later told Android Authority that "the issue has been resolved" and that users can manage, review, and delete voice logs of their interactions with Meta AI via settings at any time. The company did not explain what caused the devices to record without a prompt.

Other Reddit users reported similar behavior, with the glasses triggering automatically during conversations, phone calls, and phone dictation. The original poster said they are speaking with a lawyer about the possibility of filing a class action lawsuit if the issue turns out to affect more customers.

Growing Privacy Scrutiny

The incident has added to ongoing concerns about Meta's smart glasses. Some users described the situation as mass surveillance, while others said they can no longer wear the devices in public, at the office, or at home. Meta smart glasses have previously faced scrutiny over being used to film people without consent.

Regulatory and commercial responses are emerging. Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium have begun taking measures regarding smart glasses, and Dutch eyewear retailer Hans Anders has suspended sales of the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses due to privacy concerns. Meta Platforms has also been accused of misleading marketing tactics, with a lawsuit alleging that the company sent emails with subject lines suggesting soon-to-expire discounts that would actually remain valid for another two weeks.

Sources: Cybernews