Meta faces criminal complaint in Germany over hidden cameras in Ray-Ban smart glasses

The German advocacy group HateAid has filed a criminal complaint against Meta and its partners over smart glasses with built-in cameras, arguing the device allows wearers to secretly record people around them in violation of the country's privacy laws. The filing, which also names Ray-Ban and Oakley along with several retailers, alleges that the very sale of the glasses could constitute a criminal offense under German telecommunications and data protection regulations.

HateAid is pushing for restrictions on where recording is permitted, proposing rules similar to those applied to dashcams and body-worn cameras. According to Engadget, the complaint goes beyond Meta itself, targeting the company's partners and retailers who distribute the product.

A Meta spokesperson told Politico EU that the glasses were designed with privacy safeguards that go beyond what smartphones typically offer. During recording, an LED light blinks on the frame, and the built-in software disables the camera if it detects an attempt to cover the indicator with, say, tape. The company argues this makes covert filming difficult.

However, third-party accessories have already appeared on the market that can block the LED signal without triggering the camera shutdown. As a result, bystanders may not notice they are being recorded and may not even realize that a seemingly ordinary pair of glasses contains a camera.

Additional concerns revolve around how captured footage is handled. Photos and videos generally remain stored on the owner's device unless the user enables a data transfer feature, which raises questions about potential misuse of recorded material. The complaint seeks to clarify legal responsibility for such cases and to tighten rules governing wearable recording devices in public spaces.