Meta faces privacy questions over smart glasses facial recognition code
Meta faces privacy questions over smart glasses facial recognition code
Updated at: June 10, 2026 at 12:45 AM
Meta is under intense scrutiny after researchers found dormant facial recognition code, nicknamed 'NameTag,' inside the companion app for its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
The discovery of face detection models and biometric signature tools has reignited fears regarding mass surveillance.
While Meta maintains the code was for an inactive, exploratory internal pilot and was never released to the public, privacy advocates remain skeptical.
Critics argue that smart glasses, which can capture images discreetly, could transform into tools for unconsented public tracking.
This incident is particularly sensitive given Meta’s history, including a massive $650 million settlement in 2021 related to biometric data practices.
Although Meta removed the code within 48 hours of it being exposed in June 2026, the company faces lingering questions.
Meta executives have dismissed the reports as 'clickbait,' but the episode underscores a broader debate: should facial recognition technology be normalized in the consumer devices we wear every day?
For now, the future of biometric privacy remains a central concern as wearable technology continues to evolve.
