Meta is considering adding facial recognition to its Ray-Ban smart glasses, a feature that would allow wearers to identify strangers.
An internal document suggests the company may time the launch to exploit periods of political distraction when civil liberties groups are less able to mount opposition.
The technology would scan faces without consent, creating sensitive biometric “faceprints” of unsuspecting bystanders in public and private spaces.
Meta has a history of costly legal settlements, totaling nearly $7 billion, related to previous facial recognition systems deemed deceptive or non-consensual.
The plan faces significant legal hurdles, as many states now require affirmative consent for biometric data collection, which is impossible to obtain from random passersby.
In a move that privacy advocates have long feared, Meta is actively developing facial recognition technology for its popular Ray-Ban smart glasses. According to internal documents obtained by The New York Times, the company is not only advancing the controversial feature but is strategically considering launching it during a period of intense political upheaval. The goal, as stated in a company memo, is to exploit a moment when civil society watchdogs are “focused on other concerns,” thereby minimizing organized opposition to a product that would fundamentally alter public anonymity.
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