Pubs and restaurants are viewing Meta's smart glasses as if they are concealed cameras, and I fully agree.

      The era of the 'glasshole' has returned, and Meta's smart glasses are facing bans.

      Meta's smart glasses have rapidly gained popularity recently. Unlike how wearable facial technology was viewed in the past, the Meta Ray-Ban glasses have improved functionality and style. However, issues concerning privacy continue to persist.

      In the UK, various restaurants, pubs, private clubs, and theatres are implementing restrictions on Meta's camera-equipped glasses due to worries that customers and staff might be filmed without their knowledge. This response mirrors the bans and negative public sentiment that arose following the introduction of Google Glass over a decade ago.

      Remove the glasses or disable the camera

      Ray-Ban

      Jeremy King, a restaurateur in London with establishments like Simpsons in the Strand, Arlington, and The Park, stated to The Guardian that guests should refrain from wearing recording glasses indoors. Soho House has confirmed that its existing filming ban includes smart glasses, meaning members may be required to take them off.

      Wetherspoons has taken a more specific stance, indicating that customers are prohibited from using the glasses to record other patrons or staff without consent. Similarly, ATG Theatres will request that individuals remove the glasses during performances because filming is not allowed. Consequently, the policies range from total removal to limitations on camera usage.

      This situation is strikingly reminiscent of past events. In 2013, restaurants in Seattle began prohibiting Google Glass over fears of discreet recording. Cinemas in both the UK and US enforced restrictions due to privacy and movie piracy concerns.

      A small recording light hasn't instilled trust

      Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      Recently, Meta confirmed that its glasses feature a blinking capture LED whenever a photo is taken or video recorded. The company has also implemented safeguards to disable the camera if the indicator is obstructed, damaged, or changed physically.

      Despite these measures, not everyone feels reassured. There have been reports of individuals being recorded without their knowledge, including incidents where videos were uploaded to social media. Instagram has been working on removing videos made with smart glasses that exploit or harass the individuals shown in them. With millions of such "spy" glasses available, additional privacy measures in public spaces are increasingly desired.

      Vikhyaat Vivek is a technology journalist and reviewer with seven years of expertise in consumer hardware, focusing on...

      Viture's lightest smart glasses yet provide an impressive 146-inch screen in front of your eyes.

      The new Virture Pro 2 XR glasses are lighter, slimmer, and more comfortable to wear.

      Smart glasses seem appealing in theory. They provide a large virtual screen that offers an expansive viewing experience without the need for carrying a physical one. However, this convenience comes with the drawback of wearing a relatively heavy piece of technology on your face throughout the movie. Nevertheless, Viture is addressing this concern with its next-generation smart glasses.

      The Viture Pro 2 is the lightest display glasses the company has produced thus far. The new model weighs only 63 grams and is priced at $299, with a frame that is 16% thinner and 20% lighter than the original Viture Pro. The company has also made various design improvements to enhance comfort during extended use.

      Samsung might be developing a more affordable Galaxy Watch with over a week of battery life.

      Samsung has recently launched its latest high-end smartwatches, including the Galaxy Watch 9 series and the premium Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. While these models come with substantial price tags, the company may already be working on a more economical option.

      References found by SamMobile in the Galaxy Wearable app hint at a new smartwatch codenamed Galaxy Aero. Notably, the code refers to it as “galaxy_rtos_watch,” indicating it may utilize a real-time operating system instead of Google’s Wear OS.

      Google's Pixel Tag may be its response to Apple's AirTag, with a price to match.

      Google seems poised to introduce its version of the AirTag, albeit with a price that doesn't significantly undercut its competitor.

      The Pixel Tag is anticipated to retail for €34.90 in Europe, as reported by Dealabs. Apple prices its AirTag at €35 in France, resulting in only a 10 cent difference in favor of Google. The tracker might be unveiled during Google's hardware event scheduled for August 12.