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Meta’s Smart Glasses Face U.S. Class Action and U.K. Inquiry Over Human Review of Sensitive Videos

Investigations report Nairobi annotators viewed intimate first‑person clips despite Meta’s stated on‑device privacy controls.

Overview

  • A U.S. class action filed March 4 by Gina Bartone and Mateo Canu alleges false advertising and privacy violations, naming Meta and manufacturing partner EssilorLuxottica/Luxottica of America.
  • The UK Information Commissioner's Office has launched an inquiry into the handling of smart‑glasses data following the Swedish reporting.
  • Svenska Dagbladet and Göteborgs‑Posten documented contractors in Nairobi reviewing footage that included bathroom use, sexual activity, and visible credit‑card details, with reports of inconsistent face‑blurring.
  • Meta says media stays on a user’s device unless it is shared with Meta AI, acknowledges contractor review of shared data with automated filtering, and says it contacted annotator firm Sama as it investigates.
  • Security experts warn that exposing private recordings can fuel identity theft and phishing risks, a concern amplified by rapid adoption with about 7 million Ray‑Ban units reportedly sold in 2025.