Advocates Caution That Meta’s Latest Smart Glasses Functionality Could Endanger Privacy

Meta’s Latest Smart Glasses Feature May Be A Privacy Concern, Say Advocates

Meta has been trying to embed facial recognition technology into its social media services for a considerable period. The company intends to add this functionality to its range of smart glasses, sparking serious privacy worries. An internal memo acquired by The New York Times emphasizes the “safety and privacy dangers” tied to the initiative. On April 13, the ACLU sent a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, cautioning that the forthcoming facial recognition system, dubbed “Name Tag,” threatens at-risk communities, such as religious minorities, people of color, LGBTQ+ groups, and survivors of stalking or sexual harassment. In essence, anyone with a digital footprint is vulnerable, from youngsters to executives.

The ACLU is especially worried that the smart glasses, which look like typical prescription eyewear, could allow users to discreetly “monitor and profile” individuals, potentially resulting in “identify and stalk” situations. There is also concern that law enforcement agents might abuse the smart glasses to violate Fourth Amendment rights. The letter notes a 2024 occurrence where Harvard students utilized smart glasses with facial recognition to identify strangers on the Boston subway in real-time. Moreover, it highlights research indicating a rise in assaults against the LGBTQ+ population. Thankfully, there are glasses equipped with specialized lenses that can trick facial recognition systems and applications that function as anti-smart glasses radar to combat such technologies.

Meta couldn’t have chosen a worse moment, and it appears to have done so on purpose.

When companies address “safety and privacy dangers,” they usually concentrate on reducing them. This holds true for Name Tag, but rather than convincing individuals of its advantages, Meta seems to be biding its time for its critics to become preoccupied with other matters. As reported by The New York Times, Meta intends to launch Name Tag “during a fluid political atmosphere where many civil society organizations that we would anticipate criticizing [it] would have their energies directed elsewhere.”

If this assertion is correct, it implies that Meta’s leadership recognizes the credibility of the ACLU’s worries but plans to move forward with the rollout of Name Tag regardless. Ironically, the memo and various sources from The New York Times propose methods by which Meta could persuade the public of Name Tag’s advantages or at least address some of the ACLU’s concerns. For instance, Name Tag could help users who are blind or have limited vision.

Meta aims to unveil Name Tag at a “conference for the blind” before releasing it to the broader public. Also, the smart glasses are anticipated to show recording activity through a white LED on the frames, and the facial recognition functionality will reportedly restrict profiling to friends on Facebook. Despite these promises, The New York Times points out Facebook’s past issues with data privacy, suggesting that the system may not be as secure as Meta asserts.

When to Reboot Your Apple Watch

occasionally reboot your phone to provide a refresh. The same applies to your Apple Watch, even if you might not think of it as a device that requires a restart apart from when an update is being applied.

While that is the most apparent time to reboot, the system usually handles this automatically after the update installation. However, there are other instances when you may realize your Apple Watch would benefit from a restart. There’s no formal guideline on a timeline for rebooting the smartwatch. Yet, there are clear indicators suggesting it’s a suitable moment to do so.

Indicators that it’s time to restart your Apple Watch

Utilizing a Laptop Without a Battery: Is It Feasible?

best options for 2026 — featuring enhanced battery management, when the battery reaches a full charge, the system automatically disconnects the power supply from it and channels AC power to the components. This also implies that upon disconnecting the battery, the laptop will stay powered and function normally. At least this is applicable to the majority of laptops, though not all.

Most laptops function equally well without a battery

Reasons Why a Fitbit is no Longer Essential

release additional Fitbits in 2026, yet provided no particular information regarding timing or what will be revealed. The firm also informed several sources that it was phasing out the Sense and Versa series.

Fitbit’s prospects with Google remain unclear

Five Pokémon with Scientifically Viable Moves and Skills

upgrading to a Nintendo Switch 2.

It appears that Pokémon are intriguing and tough, fictional beings. Many of them draw inspiration from actual animals, inanimate objects, or mythical entities from well-known folklore. However, were you aware that some abilities a Pokémon can acquire or inherit are rooted in scientific principles? The comparison isn’t always exact, as fictional Pokémon possess physiological traits that blend or diverge from those of animals, elements, or other living organisms, while others exhibit fantastical features that only make sense within their realm. Nevertheless, some core ideas and inspirations remain present. This can be seen with certain Pokémon types. For instance, Qwilfish is modeled after pufferfish, which can be lethal if consumed improperly. In the Pokémon universe, Qwilfish possess various poison attacks that reflect a comparable level of toxicity. This is merely one illustration among several Pokémon featuring science-oriented abilities. Here are a few additional examples.

Corsola’s Regenerator ability

Pokémon Corsola serves as a noteworthy example of how coral reefs can recover after suffering damage in their primary habitat. The Johto variant of Corsola is modeled after coral polyps (phylum Cnidaria). The alternate form, the Galarian-Corsola, symbolizes white or bleached corals affected by ocean acidification. Coral bleaching is a prevalent concern for coral reefs, reaching alarming levels and occurring due to climate change.

Interestingly, the Regenerator move that Corsola can learn has some scientific ties to the recovery process of coral bleaching. Research indicates that dying coral colonies can regenerate tissue while mending skeletal harm. This is quite akin to how Regenerator, a Pokémon ability that Corsola can acquire, operates. Regenerator is a healing-related passive that restores 33% of the

Consumer Reports’ Best Budget Workout Earbuds of 2026

Consumer Reports evaluated the finest workout earbuds of 2026 and ranked them based on sound performance, comfort, and feature utility. We examined CR’s selections and decided to highlight the most budget-friendly earbuds in their collection.

The Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless are recognized as the top inexpensive workout earbuds by Consumer Reports, as they provide sound quality that exceeds expectations for their price. Priced at just $19.99, they offer good audio quality and are easy to replace if forgotten at the gym. Nonetheless, CR’s testers pointed out that a better fit can be achieved by opting for a pricier model. The Dime 2 earbuds also feature a battery life of 3.5 hours, with an extra 8.5 hours available from the charging case, making them adequate for your daily fitness routine.

Wireless earbuds tend to have limited longevity, even at higher price points, so selecting a budget-friendly option for daily extended workouts is sensible. This makes the Skullcandy Dime 2 a perfect pick for budget-aware gym enthusiasts.

What other reviewers say about the Skullcandy Dime 2 earbuds

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Four Functions of Your Google Pixel’s USB-C Port Aside from Charging

The Google Pixel 10 series smartphones allow you to utilize Qi2 charging through the built-in magnets of Pixelsnap, making the use of the USB-C port for other functions even more appealing.

Use wired headphones