Texas AG Ken Paxton says Meta’s smart glasses raise privacy concerns tied to recordings, facial data and user information.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into Meta’s smart glasses over concerns about how the devices may collect, process and potentially expose users’ private information, according to a news release issued Wednesday.
The investigation centers on Meta’s AI glasses, which are equipped with cameras, speakers and communication tools that allow users to capture and share audio and video from their surroundings.
According to the attorney general’s office, Meta’s privacy policy states the glasses have an “always enabled” mode that continuously processes video data for use with Meta AI products. The release said the devices also use an LED indicator light to signal when audio or video is being recorded, but officials raised concerns that the light can be hidden and does not activate during the glasses’ always-on mode.
WFAA reached out to Meta for comment on the investigation.
“We also built in tamper detection that prevents capture if the LED is covered when a user is actively capturing photos or videos for their gallery. If the LED is covered, the user will be notified to clear it before they can initiate active capture,” a META spokesperson told WFAA.
The release also cited concerns over how user information is handled.
According to Paxton’s office, individuals working for Meta subcontractor Sama in Kenya have claimed they could access users’ private information despite Meta’s privacy protections. The release said some workers reported viewing highly personal footage, including bathroom visits and other intimate moments.
“Privacy and data protection are core to every product we build at Meta, including Ray-Ban Meta glasses. We’re ready to address the questions Attorney General Paxton has raised, which appear to come from reporting that doesn’t reflect the full picture of our work,” a META spokesperson told WFAA.
The attorney general’s office also pointed to reporting by The New York Times that indicated Meta plans to bring facial recognition technology to the glasses through a feature internally known as “Name Tag.” According to the release, the feature could allow Meta to collect facial geometry from people captured by the glasses’ cameras.
“I will continue to relentlessly stand up to any company that threatens the privacy and safety of Texans,” Paxton said in the release. “Meta’s glasses raise serious concerns, and my office will thoroughly investigate these devices to ensure that no individual is being unlawfully recorded, tracked, or subjected to the unauthorized collection of their data.”
“We do not have facial recognition on our AI glasses,” a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. “We frequently hear about the interest in this type of feature – and some products already exist in the market. If we were to release such a feature, we would take a thoughtful approach if and before rolling anything out, in line with our Responsible Innovation Principles, which are designed to help protect people’s privacy.”
Paxton’s office said it has issued a Civil Investigative Demand, or CID, to determine whether Meta “deceptively misrepresents” its use of consumer data in violation of Texas law.
The release also noted that Paxton secured a $1.4 billion settlement with Meta in July 2024 related to allegations involving facial recognition technology.