Meta sued over AI smart glasses' privacy concerns, after workers reviewed nudity, sex, and other footage | TechCrunch

"The complaint alleges that the Meta AI smartglasses are advertised using promises like "designed for privacy, controlled by you," and "built for your privacy," which might not lead customers to assume their glasses' footage, including intimate moments, was being watched by overseas workers. The plaintiffs believed Meta's marketing and said they saw no disclaimer or information that contradicted the advertised privacy protections."

"In 2025, over seven million people bought Meta's smartglasses, which means their footage is fed into a data pipeline for review, and they can't opt out. Meta told the BBC that when people share content with Meta AI, it uses contractors to review the information to improve people's experience with the glasses."

"An investigation by Swedish newspapers found that workers at a Kenya-based subcontractor are reviewing footage from customers' glasses, which included sensitive content, like nudity, people having sex, and using the toilet. Meta claimed it was blurring faces in images, but sources disputed that this blurring consistently worked."

Meta is being sued in the United States for privacy violations and false advertising regarding its AI smart glasses. An investigation by Swedish newspapers revealed that workers at a Kenya-based subcontractor reviewed footage from customers' glasses, including sensitive content such as nudity and intimate moments. Meta claimed to blur faces, but sources disputed the consistency of this protection. The plaintiffs allege Meta's marketing promises like "designed for privacy, controlled by you" misled consumers who were unaware overseas workers accessed their footage. The lawsuit also names Luxottica of America as a manufacturing partner. Over seven million people purchased Meta's smartglasses in 2025, with footage automatically fed into a data pipeline for review without opt-out options. The U.K. regulator has also launched an investigation into the matter.

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