Investigation Alleges Meta's Smart Glasses Send Private Videos to Overseas Contractors

A recent investigation by two Swedish newspapers alleges that Meta's popular AI smart glasses are sending sensitive user footage to human reviewers in Nairobi, Kenya. The report claims contractors there have viewed videos captured by the glasses that include people in bathrooms, intimate moments, and other private settings.

The findings, published by Svenska Dagbladet and Göteborgs-Posten, have already prompted at least one proposed class-action lawsuit in the United States. The suit argues Meta violated privacy and false advertising laws by marketing the glasses as privacy-focused while allegedly allowing such personal content to be seen by overseas workers.

These contractors are AI annotators, tasked with labeling data to improve Meta's AI systems. One worker told reporters, "We see everything - from living rooms to naked bodies." While a former Meta employee stated faces are automatically blurred, current annotators say the system sometimes fails, leaving identities exposed. They also report occasionally seeing users' bank card details.

Meta's collaboration with EssilorLuxottica has made the camera-equipped glasses a major success, with sales exceeding 7 million units in 2025. However, privacy changes last year kept the 'Hey Meta' AI assistant active by default and required voice recordings to be stored in the cloud.

In a statement, Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton said media from the glasses "stays on the user's device" unless shared voluntarily. "When people share content with Meta AI, we sometimes use contractors to review this data for the purpose of improving people's experience," Clayton said, adding that the company takes steps to filter data and protect privacy.

The UK's Information Commissioner's Office is now questioning Meta about the allegations. Privacy advocates, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center, have long warned that integrating facial recognition into such devices poses a significant threat to personal privacy and civil liberties.

Source: The Verge