A Swedish news investigation revealed that contractors reviewing video data from Meta's AI smart glasses encountered highly sensitive user content, including nudity, sexual encounters, and private moments. This has prompted the UK's data protection regulator to seek clarification from Meta on its compliance with privacy laws.
Meta states that data review by contractors is done to improve the AI user experience and includes privacy measures like blurring faces, but acknowledged the system is not flawless. The company maintains that media captured by the glasses stays on the user's device unless explicitly shared.
The scrutiny comes as Meta and its partner consider significantly increasing production of the glasses, which are driving massive market growth, despite ongoing privacy concerns about devices with always-on cameras.
Main Topics: Privacy concerns and data handling of Meta's AI smart glasses, regulatory inquiry, Meta's defense and privacy measures, market growth of AI smart glasses.
Metaâs artificial intelligence (AI)-powered smart glasses have come under scrutiny after a Swedish news investigation revealed that sensitive user content was being reviewed during the data-annotation process.
Contract workers tasked with reviewing videos for data annotation reportedly encountered highly sensitive material, including bank information, nudity, sexual encounters, pornography, and even footage of people using the toilet.
The videos captured by users wearing Metaâs AI smart glasses were reviewed by Swedish publications Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) and Göteborgs-Posten (GP).
According to the reports, some of the footage included private moments, such as users using the toilet or engaging in sexual activity.
Following the findings, the UKâs data protection regulator has sought clarification from Meta. The Information Commissionerâs Office (ICO) said it has written to the company requesting information to ensure that its practices comply with UK data protection laws.
Meta said contractors review certain data to improve user experience with the Meta AI glasses, in accordance with its privacy policy.
In a statement to the BBC, the company added that Ray-Ban Meta glasses are designed to help users interact with AI hands-free and get answers to their queries.
Meta also said the review process forms part of its efforts to filter collected data and protect peopleâs privacy. This includes measures such as blurring faces in images.
However, the company acknowledged that the system is not flawless and that failed attempts at blurring can sometimes reveal faces, an issue highlighted in the investigation by SvD and GP.
The UKâs data watchdog also raised concerns about the level of user control over data and the transparency of companies that process personal information.
Meta maintained that media captured using the glasses remains on the userâs device unless it is explicitly shared with Meta or others.
The development comes as Meta and its manufacturing partner EssilorLuxottica are reportedly considering doubling the production capacity of their AI-powered smart glasses to 20 million units annually by the end of this year.
ET also reported in January that the tendency of smart glasses to constantly capture audio and video raises concerns about who can see what and when. Devices launched so far rely heavily on cameras, which have triggered privacy concerns.
Global smart glasses shipments grew 110% year-over-year (YoY) in the first half of 2025, driven by strong demand for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. AI smart glasses accounted for 78% of total shipments in the first half of 2025, up from 46% in the same period last year and 66% in the second half of 2024.
Contract workers tasked with reviewing videos for data annotation reportedly encountered highly sensitive material, including bank information, nudity, sexual encounters, pornography, and even footage of people using the toilet.
The videos captured by users wearing Metaâs AI smart glasses were reviewed by Swedish publications Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) and Göteborgs-Posten (GP).
According to the reports, some of the footage included private moments, such as users using the toilet or engaging in sexual activity.
Following the findings, the UKâs data protection regulator has sought clarification from Meta. The Information Commissionerâs Office (ICO) said it has written to the company requesting information to ensure that its practices comply with UK data protection laws.
Meta said contractors review certain data to improve user experience with the Meta AI glasses, in accordance with its privacy policy.
In a statement to the BBC, the company added that Ray-Ban Meta glasses are designed to help users interact with AI hands-free and get answers to their queries.
Meta also said the review process forms part of its efforts to filter collected data and protect peopleâs privacy. This includes measures such as blurring faces in images.
However, the company acknowledged that the system is not flawless and that failed attempts at blurring can sometimes reveal faces, an issue highlighted in the investigation by SvD and GP.
The UKâs data watchdog also raised concerns about the level of user control over data and the transparency of companies that process personal information.
Meta maintained that media captured using the glasses remains on the userâs device unless it is explicitly shared with Meta or others.
The development comes as Meta and its manufacturing partner EssilorLuxottica are reportedly considering doubling the production capacity of their AI-powered smart glasses to 20 million units annually by the end of this year.
ET also reported in January that the tendency of smart glasses to constantly capture audio and video raises concerns about who can see what and when. Devices launched so far rely heavily on cameras, which have triggered privacy concerns.
Global smart glasses shipments grew 110% year-over-year (YoY) in the first half of 2025, driven by strong demand for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. AI smart glasses accounted for 78% of total shipments in the first half of 2025, up from 46% in the same period last year and 66% in the second half of 2024.
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