Berlin-based nonprofit HateAid has filed a criminal complaint against Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses, saying the device violates Germany’s strict privacy laws and should be banned, Politico reports.
In recent months, the Meta glasses have been the subject of a flood of complaints, with reports of people being filmed without consent or having intimate footage captured without the knowledge that Meta’s contractors could be reviewing them.
HateAid has argued that selling Meta’s smart glasses in Germany is a criminal offense because the device allows people to secretly film others. The lawsuit claims that selling the glasses in Germany violates the Telecommunications, Digital Services and Data Protection Act. HateAid’s complaint is against Meta, Ray-Ban, and Oakley, as well as several retailers.
Meta spokesman Matthew Pollard said the smart glasses were approved by German watchdog BNetzA in 2022 and
are designed to be more secure than any smartphone.
Security measures include an LED light that turns on when the glasses are recording video, and technology that prevents the light from being changed.
Meanwhile, HateAid said the glasses should only be marketed if they are clearly identifiable and there should be clear restrictions on where they can’t be used.
European privacy watchdogs have commissioned a report on smart glasses, which is expected to be ready by the end of the summer.
Read also: Technology against wildfire – can it replace humans?