Khaberni - Meta is planning to integrate face recognition technology into its smart glasses, a move that could facilitate real-time person recognition but is sparking wide controversy over privacy and security.
Press reports indicate that Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is working on integrating this technology into its smart glasses, a step expected to spur extensive debate about privacy and security in wearable technology.
According to a recent report based on internal documents, Meta is planning to launch a new feature called Name Tag, which allows users to identify people simply by looking at them through the smart glasses and asking for information from the built-in smart assistant.
How does it work?
Name Tag technology is a facial recognition feature allowing wearers of the glasses to detect individuals they interact with by connecting to data from Meta accounts or public profiles on the company’s websites.
The new feature can display names, descriptions, or other information associated with individuals in real-time through the smart assistant inside the glasses.
This technology could be integrated into models of Meta’s smart glasses such as Ray‑Ban Meta glasses or future versions of them.
Historical Background
This development marks a significant shift in Meta's policy, as the company had ceased using facial recognition technology in its social services since 2021 due to privacy and legal concerns.
Therefore, reintroducing the idea in a new form through smart glasses raises questions about whether the company has found a way to incorporate the technology without significant friction with privacy laws and boundaries.
Although Meta states that it is still exploring its options and will take a thoughtful approach before launching any feature, incorporating face recognition into a wearable device could open the door to serious privacy violations.
In this context, privacy advocacy organizations and some global regulators have called for an investigation into this step and its prevention, warning that the widespread integration of facial recognition technology into smart glasses could lead to surveillance everywhere and threaten fundamental citizen rights.
Community Reactions
The new addition has received mixed reactions from users. Some see the technology as helpful for remembering names or facilitating social interaction, while others warn that its use could mean tracking individuals without their knowledge, pushing for the enactment of strict laws before allowing it to reach the general market.
In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that Meta is working on developing the next generation of its smart glasses, including improving battery life and super sensing features to enhance camera capabilities and processing, which could facilitate the implementation of advanced functions like facial recognition when the technology becomes available.
