Meta talks about using facial recognition for smart glasses, raising privacy questions
Meta reportedly plans to reintroduce facial recognition to its smart glasses, raising privacy concerns as the technology could identify people through its AI assistant.
Five years after Facebook shut down the feature amid privacy and legal concerns, the meta platform is planning to bring back facial recognition, this time through its smart glasses. The internal project, called “Name Tags,” will allow users to identify people and access information about them through the glasses’ AI assistant, people familiar with the plans told the NYT. The launch could happen later this year, although details are tentative.
The move is part of Meta’s effort to strengthen its wearable devices against emerging competition, including AI-powered products from other companies, while making its smart glasses more practical for everyday users. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly sees facial recognition as a way to enhance AI assistants and differentiate glasses in a crowded market.
Meta is carefully evaluating the risks. An internal memo from May revealed that the company has discussed how to release the feature responsibly, taking into account potential “security and privacy risks.” The plan initially involved testing the technology with attendees at a conference for the blind before a wider rollout. The same document suggested that the current political climate in the US could create a strategic window for release.
Privacy advocates remain cautious. Nathan Freed Wessler of the American Civil Liberties Union said, “Facial recognition technology on America’s streets poses a uniquely serious threat to the practical anonymity we all rely on.” Critics have warned that the technology could be misused by governments, corporations or individuals, leading to bans or bans in some US cities and states. Democratic lawmakers recently called on Immigration and Customs Enforcement to stop enforcing facial recognition in public places.
Meta first considered adding facial recognition to its Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2021, but shelved the idea due to technical and ethical concerns. The renewed effort comes as the devices are gaining popularity in the market and competition in AI wearables has intensified. Sources say the feature may be limited to identifying known contacts or public profiles on the Meta platform, rather than working as a universal lookup tool.
Previous experiments highlight both promise and controversy. In 2024, two Harvard students used a commercial facial recognition tool with Ray-Ban Metas to identify strangers on the Boston subway, causing a viral stir. Meta emphasized that the glasses’ LED light signals when recording is active, which provides some transparency.
Meta is also developing “super sensing” glasses that can constantly monitor surroundings using facial recognition to assist users with reminders or tasks. For visually impaired individuals, technology can be transformative. “It’s very important and powerful for this group of humans,” said Mike Buckley, CEO of Be My Eyes.
Yet Meta’s privacy record casts a long shadow. The company previously paid $2 billion in settlements over unauthorized facial data collection and $5 billion to the Federal Trade Commission for widespread privacy violations. Recent internal changes to privacy review processes have raised concerns over whether new products comply with regulatory agreements. An internal director said, “Mark wants to go a little further on this.”