Meta Faces Lawsuit Claiming Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Sent Private Footage to Overseas Reviewers

Meta is facing a class action lawsuit in the US alleging privacy violations related to its Ray-Ban smart glasses. The suit claims the company sent private camera footage to a subcontractor in Kenya for manual review to train its AI models, despite marketing the glasses with a focus on privacy. According to an investigative report by Swedish publications, workers at the subcontractor facility reviewed sensitive videos, including footage of intimate moments and private activities within people’s homes.

The lawsuit accuses Meta of misleading consumers about the product’s privacy protections, stating that the company’s “face anonymization” layer is ineffective. Meta responded by stating that user-shared media is sometimes reviewed by contractors to improve AI experiences, but that they take steps to protect privacy. They also emphasize that media stays on the user’s device unless explicitly shared.

The Ray-Ban Meta glasses are designed to be used as AI-assisted eyewear and can be fitted with prescription lenses for all-day wear, but the lawsuit raises concerns about the potential for unauthorized access to and review of highly personal user data.

(Source：Road to VR)