Ray-Ban Meta

[1] They are latest in a line of smartglasses released by major companies including Snap Inc and Google and are designed as one component of Facebook’s plans for a metaverse.

[7] During the keynote video, Zuckerberg described several new Facebook innovations, such as the Oculus Quest 2, a new augmented reality division called Project Aria, and the Ray-Ban Stories themselves.

[8] In the following year after its initial announcement, Zuckerberg and Facebook Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth would hint at a 2021 release date through FPV (first person view) video clips appearing to be taken using a Ray-Ban Stories prototype.

[10] According to Facebook, the Luxottica team re-engineered the components of the glasses to fit technology such as: a set of micro-speakers, a three-microphone audio array, an optimized Snapdragon processor, a capacitive touchpad, and a battery.

[1] To address privacy concerns of users and those around them, engineers said they created a hardware power switch and a hardwired LED light to indicate when the camera is recording.

Current features on the app include importing, editing, and formatting photos and videos shot on Ray-Ban Stories for sharing on Meta-affiliated products such as Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and other social media sites.

[19] The glasses have a small white LED light that activates to show that they are recording, but whether this notification is visible or effective, especially in low-light situations, has come under scrutiny.

[20] While Meta asserts that the glasses activate only upon hearing the “Hey, Facebook” wake phrase, skeptics remain wary of potential unauthorized data collection.

The Facebook View app's privacy policy states that users’ voice commands may be sent to Meta's servers unless explicitly opted out, a detail that has fueled broader concerns about transparency and data control.

The recording capabilities of the glasses, particularly when coupled with Meta's AI technology, raise questions about how data is stored, who has access to it, and how it is protected from misuse or breaches.

One impactful 2024 study showed that hacked Ray-Ban Meta glasses could engage in real-time recognition, raising anxiety about mass surveillance and profiling.

[11] Meta's official recommendations, which include things like letting people maintain personal boundaries and switching off the device in sensitive environments, are designed to encourage responsible use but may not do much to relieve deeper systemic issues related to surveillance.