Understanding privacy with your Meta AI glasses
We know that when you bring technology into your everyday life, privacy is the first thing on your mind. Because these glasses include an AI assistant and a camera, they have been designed with built-in protections to keep you and the people around you comfortable.
How others know when the camera is on One of the most important features is the small light on the front of the frames. This is a physical signal that cannot be turned off or hidden. It only lights up when the glasses are taking a photo, recording a video, or when the AI is “looking” to help you with a question. If that light is covered up, the camera features simply won’t work. This ensures that everyone around you has a clear visual cue whenever the sensors are active.
The microphones only listen when you want them to By default, the glasses can listen for a “wake word” so you can use them hands-free, but you have total control over this. If you’d prefer the microphones stayed off, you can turn off the voice-activation feature in the settings. This means the glasses only listen when you choose to press the physical button on the frame to ask a question. The glasses do not turn on the microphones (or the light) for basic things like listening to music or taking a phone call.
Your data stays in your hands Any photos or videos you take stay on your glasses until you move them to the app on your phone. From there, you decide where they go. Cloud storage is entirely optional; nothing is sent to a server unless you specifically choose to turn that feature on. If you ever want to clear your history, there is a dedicated section in the app where you can see every interaction you’ve had and “shred” them instantly.
Finding more information If you would like to explore the privacy settings in more detail, you can find a complete guide to managing your data on the official Meta privacy page.
For independent advice on your rights when using smart technology, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) provides helpful guidance for the public on how to manage personal data and privacy with connected devices. You can also find information on bystander privacy and your rights from the Data Protection Commission here in Ireland.
