Meta is reportedly preparing a new version of its smart glasses without a camera, even as the company’s chief technology officer argues that concerns surrounding the devices are being driven by a small number of problematic users.
Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s CTO and head of Reality Labs, addressed the issue during an Ask Me Anything session on Instagram. He argued that most people use the glasses responsibly, comparing their recording capabilities to smartphone cameras while highlighting the devices’ recording indicator and anti-tampering protections.
However, ongoing privacy concerns and reports of ways to bypass those safeguards suggest that the debate around camera-equipped wearables is far from settled.
Meta defends recording safeguards amid privacy concerns
Bosworth pointed to the glasses’ recording light, which is designed to alert people when the device is capturing video. Meta has also introduced measures intended to prevent users from recording when the indicator is covered or tampered with.
According to The Next Web’s report, a software update addressed a loophole that allowed users to begin recording and then cover the light. Meta also disabled cameras on some devices where the indicator had been physically removed.
The company reportedly said the enforcement affected fewer than one in every 1,000 glasses sold. However, The Next Web reported that a $2 sticker could still defeat the recording indicator, raising questions about whether a visible light alone can provide meaningful privacy protection.
The concern extends beyond the number of users behaving improperly. Unlike a smartphone, which typically makes recording more visible to people nearby, smart glasses can capture footage without an obvious change in the wearer’s behaviour.
Camera-free Luna could change Meta’s approach
The Information reportedly claims that Meta is preparing a camera-free version of its glasses, codenamed Luna. The device is expected to feature six microphones and could be unveiled at Meta Connect on September 23, with shipments potentially beginning in October.
Removing the camera would directly address concerns about people being recorded without their knowledge. However, it would also remove one of the most prominent features associated with Meta’s existing smart glasses.
The microphones introduce another privacy consideration. While the camera-related concern would be reduced, users could still question whether the device is listening and how that activity is communicated. Unlike a camera, microphones do not currently have an established public indicator convention.
Privacy scrutiny is also increasing in Europe. Authorities in France, Norway and Germany are examining issues involving camera-equipped wearables, while the European Data Protection Board is preparing a report on the category.
Meta’s upcoming Connect event could therefore provide important details about Luna, including its microphone controls, privacy indicators and intended use cases.
