Owners of Meta’s smart glasses have raised fresh privacy concerns following reports that the wearables have been recording conversations without the "Hey Meta" wake phrase. The issue came to light after users shared their experiences on Reddit, noting that Meta AI appeared to capture audio despite the trigger word never being spoken. In several instances, users reported that the built-in capture LED light illuminated while they were speaking normally, signaling that the microphone and recording functions were actively engaged even with the hands-free response features turned off.
Following reports highlighting the glitch, Meta stated that the problem has been resolved, though the company did not provide deeper technical details regarding the root cause. This unexpected recording behavior arrives amid heightened scrutiny surrounding wearable tech and continuous audio capture. Voice assistants across the consumer technology sector have faced similar privacy hurdles in the past, forcing hardware manufacturers to implement stricter opt-out controls for audio data collection.
The incident also compounds existing skepticism regarding the data handling practices of camera-equipped eyewear. Privacy advocates have long criticized smart glasses for their potential to capture footage and audio of unsuspecting bystanders in public spaces. While Meta maintains that the unintended recording behavior is fixed, the glitch underscores ongoing challenges for consumer hardware developers attempting to balance ambient computing features with strict user privacy expectations.
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