Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 4 hrs ago
Two US Senators Open Inquiry Into Privacy Risks From Meta’s Smart Glasses
Senators Ron Wyden and Edward Markey are investigating Meta’s smart glasses over alleged privacy violations.
The Oregon and Massachusetts Democrats sent Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg a letter asking how the company assessed risks and what safeguards it has in place.
The glasses have drawn criticism after reports of people using them to secretly film and harass women, as well as concerns about surveillance.
The senators also want answers about images used to train AI, including whether human reviewers can see them.
Meta has said it fixed a problem owners raised about glasses recording conversations, and said it ended a contract with data labelers in Kenya after reports they viewed sexual content captured by the glasses.
Meta has introduced some changes, including a rule against recording when the indicator light is covered, but the senators say the company must show its protections are effective.
Meta is being asked to provide information before Thanksgiving on its safety testing, privacy assessments and current safeguards.
Two US senators have opened an inquiry into privacy risks linked to Meta’s smart glasses.
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Edward Markey of Massachusetts sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
They are asking Meta about its privacy assessments, safety testing and safeguards for the glasses.
The senators raised concerns about recordings of bystanders and the use of imagery to train AI systems.
Meta has said it fixed a reported recording problem and has announced changes to the glasses.
- Who
- US Senators Ron Wyden and Edward Markey are investigating Meta.
- What
- They requested information about privacy risks, safety testing and safeguards for Meta’s smart glasses.
- When
- The senators sent their letter on Thursday; the article was published on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- The inquiry is in the United States. The senators sent the letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
- Why
- They are concerned about alleged privacy violations, including covert recording and the use of imagery to train AI systems.
Senators Ron Wyden and Edward Markey
Meta
Privacy risks
Senators Ron Wyden and Edward Markey
The senators say the glasses have been implicated in invasions of users’ and bystanders’ privacy.
Meta
Meta told Gizmodo that a reported recording problem had been fixed.
Safeguards
Senators Ron Wyden and Edward Markey
The senators are asking Meta to explain its testing and safeguards and to show meaningful steps to prevent harm.
Meta
Meta has said it updated the glasses to prevent recording when the recording indicator is covered and has announced other product changes.
Meta launched its smart glasses after identifying risks to bystander privacy and vulnerable populations, according to the senators.
A joint investigation by two Swedish news outlets reported that sexual content captured by the glasses was viewed by Meta’s third-party data labelers in Kenya.
Owners posted online claims that the glasses were recording some conversations without their consent after a firmware update.
Senators Wyden and Markey sent a letter to Mark Zuckerberg requesting information about the glasses.
The senators asked Meta to provide information by this deadline.
- Senators
- Ron Wyden of Oregon and Edward Markey of Massachusetts
- Letter recipient
- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg
- Product launch
- 2021
- Information deadline
- Before Thanksgiving
- Reported data labelers
- Meta third-party reviewers in Kenya
What people are saying
Meta’s smart glasses have increasingly been implicated in disturbing invasions of users’ and bystanders’ privacy
Although Meta identified risks to bystander privacy and vulnerable populations before launching its glasses in 2021, it nevertheless launched a product tailor-made for invading the privacy of its users and bystanders.
Retaining that material for AI development, thereby extending the period during which it can be accessed, disclosed, or misused, exploits people’s highly sensitive information for Meta’s commercial benefit.
Meta’s professed commitment to privacy and preventing intimate image abuse rings hollow if the company cannot demonstrate meaningful steps to prevent its own products and practices from facilitating those harms.