Meta Isn't the Only Company Involved in the Space

Recording technology is becoming cheaper, smaller and harder to spot, from AI-powered eyewear to virtually undetectable spy cameras, raising growing concerns about privacy and safety violations. Smart glasses have recently dominated headlines, evoking a mix of curiosity, trepidation, excitement and horror. Politicians and the public have growing concerns about the privacy and safety violations experienced by those who are covertly filmed by the devices.

Grassroots campaigns are being set up with the aim of having smart glasses banned entirely, or at least have measures put in place to offer them only to people who rely on them for accessibility. One newly forged group, entitled Stop Smart Glasses, has launched a coordinated initiative to demand that retailers and opticians stop selling smart glasses, as the risk posed to the public by the lack of regulation is so significant. Across the board, many are growing uneasy with the potential that the technology has to facilitate the abuse and harassment of oblivious, vulnerable and non-consenting individuals.

Smart glasses are near identical to standard eyeglasses, largely due to partnerships that companies like Meta have established with well-known retailers like Ray-Ban and Oakley. Meta isn't the only company involved in the space. Competitors include Lucyd and Viture, while companies like Samsung and Apple are also eyeing up opportunities.

These glasses include a range of features including speakers that can play music or give wearers AI-generated advice. The latest version of Meta's glasses also offer augmented reality (AR), which overlays maps, text messages and other notifications onto the lens of the glasses. From an accessibility perspective, smart glasses are a game changer for people with visual and hearing impairments.

The AI assistants can accurately describe objects and people in front of the glasses. The AR features also offer real-time subtitles for social situations, which has obvious benefits for people who are hard of hearing. Even when the footage isn't published, it's still being accessed by third-party employees, such as the Kenyan workers who were made redundant after whistleblowing the fact that they were analysing and labelling footage of people using the toilet and undressing.

Content from the perspective of smart glasses has boomed on social media, much of it filmed with the intent of humiliation, mocking and harassment, mostly targeted towards women and girls. New technologies like 'spy pens' have removed the financial barriers to entry. Costing roughly €20 – €50, these inexpensive and more discreet gadgets are making their way into the hands of people deterred by the pricing of Meta Glasses (€200 – €550).

One website selling these unbranded pens claimed that 74,000 people had also bought the product. There are laws in many jurisdictions that prevent the use of hidden cameras, including regulations like GDPR and the Data Protection Act, so there would be ramifications, only for these cameras haven't gained adequate attention from regulators. When the pen arrived, it was difficult to differentiate from a standard pen without close inspection. The author fears it's only a matter of time before footage of teachers and students appears online in Ireland.