# Meta's smart glasses face a privacy backlash

> Public concern about recording without consent is forcing Meta to ditch the camera from its Ray-Ban glasses.
- Title: Meta's smart glasses face a privacy backlash | Shortify
- Summary: Public concern about recording without consent is forcing Meta to ditch the camera from its Ray-Ban glasses. Meta is removing cameras from its smart glasses…
- Keywords: meta, ray-ban, smart glasses, privacy concerns, surveillance, zuckoff app, consent, camera technology, public backlash, ai chatbot, Meta's, smart
- Source: Digital Camera World — https://digitalcameraworld.com/tech/public-battle-against-metas-smart-glasses-forces-a-rethink-from-meta-as-a-camera-free-version-is-pending-but-will-people-now-stop-downloading-the-zuckoff-app
- Published: 2026-09-17T14:19:30+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: meta, ray-ban, smart glasses, privacy concerns, surveillance, zuckoff app, consent, camera technology, public backlash, ai chatbot
## Meta's glasses spark privacy fears
Ray-Ban smart glasses with built-in cameras were well-reviewed by tech experts, but the public increasingly sees them as surveillance tools used to record people without consent.
## Apps help people detect the glasses
ZuckOff, a free app with a $9.99 annual premium tier, lets people scan for nearby Ray-Ban glasses. A similar app called NearbyGlasses has already hit 100,000 downloads on Android.
## Courts and schools are banning them
Ray-Ban glasses have been specifically banned in UK courtrooms, New York courts, and Norwegian schools due to privacy and consent concerns.
## The real worry is audio recording
People are more concerned about private conversations being recorded than video footage. The glasses' wide-angle camera is less of a threat than the ability to capture what people say.

> I'd be more worried about people recording private conversations
## Meta plans a camera-free version
Meta is expected to unveil camera-free Ray-Ban glasses at its September 23-24 Meta Connect event, keeping the AI chatbot feature while removing the recording capability.
## Consent is now the central issue
Academics including Dr Joanne Gray and Dr Milica Stilinovic are studying whether removing the camera adequately addresses the consent problem or if the backlash has already spiraled beyond control.
## Legitimate uses are being lost
Smart glasses could help people with memory challenges recognize faces and names, but public distrust may prevent these beneficial applications from ever reaching the market.
## Key takeaway

Meta is removing cameras from its smart glasses because public perception of them as surveillance tools has become a bigger problem than the feature's actual usefulness.