Meta's smartglasses, designed to record video, are facing intense public backlash and being dubbed 'pervert glasses' due to widespread privacy concerns and fears of non-consensual surveillance, leading to bans and influencer apologies.
Meta's smartglasses, marketed as a cutting-edge gadget capable of recording video, are encountering severe public and online backlash, earning them the label 'pervert glasses.' This controversy stems from widespread fears that the glasses facilitate non-consensual filming, particularly of women, with footage potentially appearing on social media. Content creators, even those using the glasses innocently, have faced a flood of negative comments and lost followers, as exemplified by Oliver Hooson, who was shocked by the 'PERV' accusations after posting a simple video. The issue escalated with Kylie Jenner's collaboration, prompting influencers like Rida Tharana to apologize for promoting them, citing misuse by men to 'record and harass women.' Self-described pickup artists have also exploited the glasses for non-consensual filming. Hooson, despite his initial innocent intentions to capture POV content, now supports the backlash as a 'defense mechanism' against privacy invasion. Reports of misuse include a woman recorded and extorted, another filmed during sexual encounters without consent, and a far-right TikToker making sexualized comments. Consequently, UK establishments, including pubs and restaurants, have banned the glasses over privacy concerns. Parenting influencer Deena Lang also expressed 'horror' after realizing how her footage captured people's discomfort, leading her to store the glasses away. While acknowledging potential positive uses like aiding the visually impaired, she concludes that the negatives far outweigh the positives. Meta states its glasses include privacy features like a flashing LED light to indicate recording and tamper detection, asserting their leadership in industry safety standards.
