Meta updates AI glasses so recording stops if the safety light is covered

In short: Meta is changing its AI glasses so they stop recording if someone covers the small warning light meant to show the camera is on.

What happened

Meta’s smart glasses have an LED light that turns on when the glasses are taking a photo or recording video. The idea is simple, like a “recording” sign that people nearby can see.

Reports found a loophole. If someone started recording first and then covered the LED light with a sticker, the glasses could keep recording while the warning light was hidden. Meta had blocked recording when the sticker was placed first, but not when it was placed after recording began.

Meta executive Alex Himel said an update is rolling out that closes this loophole. After the change, if the LED light gets covered during a recording, the camera will stop working. Meta is also running new ads to remind the public that the light is there to alert people nearby.

Why it matters

Many people do not want to be recorded without knowing it, especially in places like stores, streets, or private settings. This update makes it harder to secretly film someone, but it does not remove all concerns. Regulators in the European Union are investigating the glasses, and Germany is considering a ban. In the US, a proposed class action lawsuit claims Meta misled buyers about privacy and alleges that some recordings can be reviewed by human workers to help train AI (like hiring people to label what is in a video so a computer can learn).

Source: Arstechnica