Pressure is mounting on Meta and other smart glasses makers as European privacy watchdogs dial up their scrutiny of the everyday-looking wearables.

Such devices, a new category of connected tech that pairs with a smartphone, feature built-in cameras and microphones powered by voice commands and AI for hands-free digital interactions.

Still, the German DPA is not the only privacy enforcer taking a closer look at Meta’s smart glasses: France’s regulator raised concerns back in March.

The CNIL warned that smart glasses are not simply technological tools, saying they pose major risks to privacy due to their “ability to capture, process, and interpret data in real time, without necessarily being known by those around them”.

These risks look very real, with Meta’s product embroiled in controversies – including reports that the device is being used to film people without consent. Women are particularly affected, per reports, with pick-up artists adopting the wearable to covertly film interactions that they post to social media.

Meta claims it’s taken steps to tackle such abuse. In a blog post last month, the tech giant said it had added safeguards that would automatically disable recording if the device detects tampering with the LED lights.

At the time, the Irish DPA – which leads on supervising Meta’s privacy compliance in Europe – said Meta had told it that Europeans’ data was not involved.

(nl)