Some Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses recorded conversations without the wearer saying the wake phrase, according to user reports covered by Ars Technica. One Reddit user said the glasses saved audio recordings and transcripts across three devices, despite having the "Respond without Hey Meta" setting turned off. Meta later said the issue had been resolved but did not explain what caused it or how many devices were affected.
The bug sharpens existing privacy worries about smart glasses. Even with the indicator light on, the glasses could record inadvertently, undermining Meta's earlier assurances. This follows reports that data annotation workers viewed private footage captured by the glasses, leading to a class action lawsuit and an investigation by the Texas Attorney General. Regulators in Norway have also considered a temporary ban.
Meta's brief statement does little to answer whether this was a firmware fault or an isolated glitch. Ars Technica noted that Android Authority could not replicate the problem before Meta announced a fix. The episode shows that both malicious use and technical failures can turn these devices into tools for nonconsensual recording, a fear that has now become concrete. Unanswered questions about the bug's scope and root cause leave the broader privacy problem unresolved.{