Tech & Science
Meta Smart Glasses Face Criminal Probes Amid Privacy, Harassment Concerns
Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses, holding 76% global market share and selling 7 million units last year, are under criminal investigation in Paris and facing bans and complaints across Europe over privacy violations and sexual harassment allegations.
Smart glasses manufactured by U.S. technology giant Meta in partnership with EssilorLuxottica dominate the global market, accounting for approximately 76 percent of worldwide sales. These AI-integrated devices feature a small embedded camera enabling discreet recording by the wearer.
Last year, 7 million units of Meta’s smart glasses were sold globally. According to the most recent sales data from Essilor, the company recorded substantial growth during 2026. However, this commercial success has intensified international scrutiny from prosecutors, regulatory bodies, consumer rights groups, and corporate entities. The concerns center on allegations of sexual harassment, unlawful internal corporate practices, and unauthorized surveillance.
Regulatory and Legal Actions Across Europe
In the United Kingdom, several cinema chains have banned the use of smart glasses on their premises. In Germany, a consumer rights group filed a criminal complaint against Meta and other companies involved in the sale of such devices, citing violations of privacy laws.
The Paris public prosecutor’s office confirmed to Reuters that it recently opened at least one criminal investigation following complaints related to sexual harassment. The complaints stem from a social media trend involving the use of smart glasses to record women in public spaces without their consent, followed by online dissemination of the footage.
The prosecutor’s office did not specify the brand of devices used in the reported incidents and declined to provide further details. It stated, however, that its cybercrime unit had tested these devices two weeks prior to better understand the types of offenses potentially enabled by smart glasses.
Company Responses
A Meta spokesperson said the company “designed its AI glasses with privacy in mind from the outset” and added that it “will continue strengthening protective measures as its glasses become more advanced.” EssilorLuxottica declined to comment.
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