Meta has quietly removed facial recognition-related code from the companion app for its smart glasses after researchers discovered dormant software capable of identifying people through images captured by the device.
Although the company says the feature was only an internal experiment and never activated, its discovery has reignited concerns about the future of wearable technology and biometric privacy. According to reports, the code was designed to convert faces into biometric identifiers stored on the device, potentially allowing users to recognize previously encountered individuals.
Meta quickly released an update removing the functionality, suggesting the company recognized the sensitivity surrounding facial recognition technology.
The incident also highlights the growing challenge facing wearable AI devices. Consumers increasingly want smart assistants with advanced capabilities, but many remain uncomfortable with technologies that analyze or identify people without their knowledge.
As smart glasses become more common, balancing innovation with privacy will likely become one of the industry’s biggest challenges.
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