Meta smart glasses face bans over privacy and piracy concerns

Meta's smart glasses are facing growing scrutiny across Europe as concerns over privacy, harassment, and piracy mount. In the UK, cinema operators are considering banning the devices, while in Germany, a criminal complaint seeks to halt their sale entirely. The backlash highlights the tension between the glasses' accessibility benefits and their potential for misuse.

Privacy and harassment

Reports describe individuals using the glasses to record others without consent, often targeting women and girls. In schools, teenagers have used them to harass classmates, with videos posted online. Source: lavanguardia A viral trend involves playing copyrighted music to force platforms to remove such videos. Source: elespanol HateAid, a German NGO, has filed a criminal complaint against Meta, Ray-Ban, and Oakley, arguing the glasses are "indistinguishable" from regular eyewear and enable "image-based digital violence." Source: euronewses

Cinema and piracy fears

The UK Cinema Association (UKCA) is reviewing policies to "prohibit or restrict" the glasses in theaters, citing risks of illegal recording and piracy. Source: infobae Piracy costs UK creative industries at least £500 million annually, with over 90% of illegal copies originating from cinemas. Source: Euronews (Español) Some venues, like Wetherspoons pubs and ATG Theatres, have already banned recording with the glasses. Source: infobae

Industry response

Meta defends the glasses, noting a light indicator that activates during recording and emphasizing their value for people with visual or hearing impairments. Source: infobae However, critics argue the light is easily missed or covered, and third-party covers are sold online. Source: Euronews (Español) No nationwide ban exists yet, but the debate is intensifying across Europe. Source: Euronews (Español)