META’S SMART GLASSES FACE PRIVACY SCRUTINY AS REGULATORS WEIGH COMPETITION AND SAFETY CONCERNS

Meta's RayBan smart glasses are drawing intensified examination from privacy and competition regulators in Europe and beyond, as policymakers reassess how wearable AI devices collect, process, and transmit data in public spaces.

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The renewed attention follows growing adoption of the glasses and a series of questions about whether current safeguards adequately protect bystanders who may be recorded by users without notice.

In recent months, oversight bodies have expanded their review of how the glasses capture audio and video, how the builtin Meta AI assistant functions, and the potential implications of hands-free recording in everyday environments. The review is testing whether existing rules cover the capabilities of increasingly sophisticated wearables and whether new requirements may be needed as more companies bring AI-enabled devices to market.

SCRUTINY EXPANDS AS WEARABLE AI SPREADS

Regulators are focusing on how the glasses behave in crowded venues such as streets, restaurants, transit systems, and workplaces, where individuals may not be aware that a nearby user is recording or using AI features. Questions center on how clearly the recording indicators function, how data is stored or processed, and whether Meta gives users enough guidance to avoid breaching local privacy laws.