Meta is facing a lawsuit over privacy concerns regarding its AI smart glasses, following an investigation by Swedish newspapers revealing footage from customers’ glasses, including intimate content, was reviewed by a Kenya-based subcontractor. Despite Meta’s claim of blurring faces, sources contested its effectiveness, prompting the U.K.’s Information Commissioner’s Office to investigate.
In the U.S., a lawsuit has been filed by plaintiffs Gina Bartone and Mateo Canu, accusing Meta of privacy violations and false advertising. The glasses were promoted with privacy assurances, yet customers’ footage, including intimate moments, was reportedly accessible to overseas workers. The complaint targets Meta and its partner Luxottica for breaching consumer protection laws.
Clarkson Law Firm, known for suing tech giants like Apple, Google, and OpenAI, highlights the issue’s scale, with over seven million glasses sold in 2025, feeding into an inescapable data pipeline. Meta stated contractors review shared data to enhance user experience, as detailed in its privacy policy, though human review is noted vaguely in its U.K. AI terms.
An ad from the complaint emphasized user control over data sharing, yet “luxury surveillance” tech such as smart glasses is facing backlash, evidenced by an app detecting nearby smart glasses.
Meta refrained from commenting specifically on the lawsuit. Spokesperson Christopher Sgro explained the glasses’ AI functionality and data handling, stressing efforts to protect privacy. The article was updated with Meta’s statement.