Meta Ray-Ban privacy LED update: camera turns off
Meta is releasing a new update for its smart glasses that turns off the camera if the recording LED is covered or physically damaged. This Meta Ray-Ban privacy LED update is intended to prevent covert recording of people without their knowledge.
Meta Ray-Ban privacy LED update: how it works
According to roadtovr.com, the v26 update applies to Meta Ray-Ban, Meta Oakley, and the new $300 Meta Glasses. Previously, the glasses prevented recording from starting if the LED was covered, but users could start recording and then cover the LED. The new update eliminates this workaround, as the camera shuts off if the light is covered during recording.
Meta states on its privacy page that if the glasses detect that the LED has been covered, physically damaged, or destroyed, they will automatically turn off the camera. The company also emphasizes that only the owner can view photos and videos taken with the glasses.
"We are continuously improving our ability to detect tampering, and now we’re updating the glasses to disable the camera if they detect the LED was physically tampered with or destroyed. No other kind of camera has done this and we’re proud to lead the industry forward," said Meta.
According to roadtovr.com, some users circumvented the software check by physically drilling out the LED. Meta's terms of use prohibit tampering with the glasses or concealing features that signal recording. Alex Himel, referred to by 9to5google as vice president of AR and by roadtovr as vice president of wearables, stated that the update will enhance the LED's reliability and that the camera will shut off if the light is covered during recording.
Why Meta is intervening
According to roadtovr.com, Meta is preempting stricter legislation in several US states and cities, including New York and Philadelphia, where smart glasses are prohibited in courthouses. In March, a report emerged about a class-action lawsuit concerning the sending of private videos to a subcontractor in Kenya. According to androidheadlines.com, Google Glass also had a recording indicator, yet people still felt uneasy, resulting in bans in some establishments.
The update follows the release of more affordable Meta Glasses without Ray-Ban or Oakley styling, as reported by roadtovr.com. Meta does not fully block glasses with a drilled-out LED, but the lack of a camera significantly restricts their usability.