Meta is fixing a privacy loophole in its AI-powered smart glasses that allowed recording even when the indicator light was obscured.
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Meta is updating its AI-powered smart glasses to address a significant privacy concern. The company is closing a loophole that previously allowed wearers to continue recording even after covering the front-facing LED indicator light, which is meant to signal that the device is capturing video.
The fix was announced by Alex Himel, Meta's vice president of augmented reality, in a post on Threads. He stated that "the camera will now stop working if the light is covered during a recording." This change is part of a broader effort to combat the device's 'pervert glasses' reputation and includes a new marketing campaign to reassure the public.
The company's line of smart glasses already had a feature that disables the built-in cameras if someone covers them, but this update specifically targets the LED indicator. The move comes as scrutiny increases over the potential for covert recording with wearable technology.
This update highlights the ongoing tension between the development of advanced wearable tech and the public's expectation of privacy. It remains to be seen how this technical fix will impact consumer trust and the adoption of Meta's smart glasses.
Sources: 1. Al Jazeera: Haiti police confront public frustration after deadly gang attack kills 47 — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/27/haiti-police-confront-public-frustration-after-deadly-gang-attack-kills-47?traffic_source=rss (src1) 2.