Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) is developing a new pair of smart glasses without a camera, following sustained public backlash over privacy concerns linked to its existing eyewear line.
The current generation of Meta glasses features a front-facing camera that allows wearers to capture photos and videos of their surroundings in real time.
The camera has also been used in conjunction with Meta’s AI to interpret a wearer’s environment, but the feature quickly attracted controversy after misuse by so-called pick-up artists and pranksters.
Incidents involving people being recorded without their knowledge or consent led to the product being widely referred to online as “pervert glasses,” with some critics calling for a full ban on the technology.
Several venues in the United Kingdom have already moved to prohibit the camera-equipped glasses, including pubs, cinemas, theatres, schools, and courtrooms.
The new glasses, known internally as Luna, were first reported by The Information, and are expected to be unveiled at Meta’s upcoming Connect event next week, scheduled for September 23-24.
Rather than relying on a camera, Luna will use audio as its primary interface, with six built-in microphones enabling real-time interaction with Meta’s Muse AI agent.
The absence of a camera is expected to result in a slimmer physical profile and a notably extended battery life compared to the existing model.
An updated version of the camera-equipped glasses is also set to be announced at the same event, with a focus on new measures designed to prevent further misuse of the recording feature.
Meta has already rolled out a software update intended to prevent users from tampering with the LED indicator light that signals when the camera is actively recording.
Alex Himel, Meta’s vice president for augmented reality, addressed the update directly in a post to the company’s Threads platform, stating: “The camera won’t start recording if the LED is blocked.”
Himel added: “Some people try to bypass this by starting a recording and then covering it up. A fix for this is starting to roll out – the camera will now stop working if the light is covered during a recording.”
A further software update is also in development to disable the glasses entirely if the recording indicator light is physically tampered with.
The Meta Connect event is also expected to feature the announcement of a new pair of augmented reality goggles offering functionality similar to Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
Meta, which also owns Facebook and Instagram, is positioning the Luna glasses as a privacy-conscious alternative while simultaneously working to restore confidence in its camera-enabled wearable line.
