Meta is facing a new U.S. lawsuit alleging its AI smart glasses were deceptively marketed with promises of privacy and user control. The suit claims customers were unaware that footage from the glasses, including sensitive and intimate moments, was reviewed by human contractors overseas to improve the AI.
The plaintiffs argue this practice contradicts advertising that emphasized privacy and user data control, violating consumer protection laws. Meta states that human review of shared content to improve the product is outlined in its terms of service, though the lawsuit disputes the prominence and clarity of these disclosures.
The main topics covered are the lawsuit's allegations of false advertising and privacy violations, the practice of human review of user footage, and Meta's defense citing its published terms.
Meta is facing a new lawsuit over its AI smart glasses and their lack of privacy, after an investigation by Swedish newspapers found that workers at a Kenya-based subcontractor are reviewing footage from customers’ glasses, which included sensitive content, like nudity, people having sex, and using the toilet.
Meta claimed it was blurring faces in images, but sources disputed that this blurring consistently worked, reports noted. The news prompted the U.K. regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office, to investigate the matter.
Now, the tech giant is facing a lawsuit in the United States, as well. In the newly filed complaint, plaintiffs Gina Bartone of New Jersey and Mateo Canu of California, represented by the public interest-focused Clarkson Law Firm, allege that Meta violated privacy laws and engaged in false advertising.
The complaint alleges that the Meta AI smartglasses are advertised using promises like “designed for privacy, controlled by you,” and “built for your privacy,” which might not lead customers to assume their glasses’ footage, including intimate moments, was being watched by overseas workers. The plaintiffs believed Meta’s marketing and said they saw no disclaimer or information that contradicted the advertised privacy protections.
The suit charges Meta and its glasses manufacturing partner Luxottica of America with conduct that violates consumer protection laws. Meta does not have a comment on the litigation at this time.
Clarkson Law Firm, which over the years has filed other major lawsuits against tech giants, including Apple, Google, and OpenAI, points to the scale of the issues at hand. In 2025, over seven million people bought Meta’s smartglasses, which means their footage is fed into a data pipeline for review, and they can’t opt out.
Meta told the BBC that when people share content with Meta AI, it uses contractors to review the information to improve people’s experience with the glasses, which is explained in its privacy policy, and pointed to Supplemental Meta Platforms Terms of Service, without specifying where this was noted. The news outlet, however, found that a mention of human review could be found in Meta’s U.K. AI terms of service.
Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room
Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400.
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately
Offer ends March 13.
A version of that policy that applies to the U.S. states “In some cases, Meta will review your interactions with AIs, including the content of your conversations with or messages to AIs, and this review may be automated or manual (human).”
The complaint mainly points to how the glasses were marketed, showing examples of ads that touted the privacy benefits, describing their privacy settings, and “added layer of security.”
“You’re in control of your data and content,” one ad read, explaining that the smartglasses owners got to choose what content was shared with others.
The rise of smart glasses and other “luxury surveillance” tech, like always-listening AI pendants, have prompted a broad backlash. One developer published an app capable of detecting when smart glasses are nearby.
Meta did not have a comment on the litigation itself, as it was just filed.
However, spokesperson Christopher Sgro offered the following statement on the overall issue, saying, “Ray-Ban Meta glasses help you use AI, hands-free, to answer questions about the world around you. Unless users choose to share media they’ve captured with Meta or others, that media stays on the user’s device. When people share content with Meta AI, we sometimes use contractors to review this data for the purpose of improving people’s experience, as many other companies do. We take steps to filter this data to protect people’s privacy and to help prevent identifying information from being reviewed.”
Updated after publication with Meta’s statement.
Meridiano
