Meta has fixed a privacy vulnerability in the Ray-Ban glasses equipped with a spy camera.

      Meta is enhancing its smart glasses from Ray-Ban, Oakley, and its own brand to disable the camera if the recording LED is physically altered or destroyed, closing a loophole that allowed modders to covertly record. This was announced in a blog post on July 7. The change prevents users from bypassing the camera’s recording indicator, which lights up when photos or videos are taken to alert bystanders. Previously, Meta blocked recording if the light was covered, but some users had figured out how to remove the LED.

      The new software can detect any tampering with the hardware and will turn off the camera until the LED is functioning again. This update is being implemented on second-generation devices across various brands including Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, and Meta’s own $300 glasses line.

      Furthermore, Meta is targeting individuals selling modification services. The company plans to eliminate ads and Marketplace listings for such mods, ban accounts, and consider legal action against those who tamper with its products.

      This solution does not resolve the larger privacy concerns associated with the category. While millions of Meta’s glasses have been sold, individuals being filmed have limited options, and there have been reports of contractors viewing sensitive footage recorded with them. The recording light has previously been a focal point in the ongoing privacy debate, which includes restrictions in public spaces. Critics also express concern over potential future modes that might allow the camera to operate while suppressing the LED light.

      The root of the anxiety lies in having a camera attached to one's face. Meta is heavily invested in capturing photos hands-free and creating AI features that observe surroundings, believing the benefits outweigh privacy concerns.

      In contrast, a competing company, Even Realities, which was founded by former Apple engineers, has gained attention for its camera-free glasses that recently raised $150 million at a $1 billion valuation, led by Meituan and Tencent. These glasses project text and simple graphics for navigation, translation, and notifications, eliminating the possibility of secret recordings.

      While this trade-off means sacrificing some capabilities, reviews indicate that display-first glasses are less advanced and refined than their camera-equipped counterparts. A tester from TechRadar concluded that despite privacy issues, the utility of a camera makes them more appealing at this stage.

      This tension highlights a nascent market where Meta dominates, even as Apple and others enter the eyewear sector. While Meta’s update addresses some of the spy-camera issues, the broader question of whether society is comfortable with cameras on every person remains unanswered by software changes alone.