Meta will disable the camera on its AI Glasses if the recording LED is tampered with and plans to take legal action against businesses advertising LED tampering services. This response follows public concerns regarding privacy and the potential misuse of the glasses, particularly in stealthily recording individuals. Critics have expressed particular alarm over women being filmed without consent, especially after modders found ways to disable the glasses’ recording indicator LED.
The company clarified in an FAQ that its glasses feature a “capture LED” that blinks when a photo is taken and remains lit during video recording. Meta stated that the LED has no off switch and is designed to inform those nearby that recording is in progress. If the LED is blocked, the camera will automatically disable, a safeguard implemented since the second generation of the glasses.
Meta’s devices will not function for taking photos or videos until the capture LED is uncovered. The company acknowledged attempts by some individuals to modify or destroy the LED beyond simple methods like taping it over. As a further precaution, Meta is issuing a mandatory update that will disable the camera if tampering is detected.
Alongside technical safeguards, Meta is actively removing advertisements and posts offering LED tampering services from its platforms. The company intends to ban any accounts promoting such services and pursue legal options even if the advertisements occur outside Meta’s platforms.
