EU resists calls to ban Meta ‘pervert glasses’ despite voyeur privacy fears

by · EUobserver

Despite privacy concerns, lawsuits, cases of medical negligence and bans in the UK and the US, Brussels is yet to confront Meta’s ‘pervert glasses’ (Source: Everyone Hates Elon)

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By Gaia Neiman,
Brussels
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Meta’s smart glasses look like any other Ray-Bans, were it not for a small flashing LED light in the corner of their recently upgraded frames, which the social media giant had to add to its design after facing numerous privacy concerns.

A few lawsuits later, and the internet’s nicknamed ‘pervert glasses’ have sold over seven million frames in 2025 alone, with more and more people – especially women – being filmed and posted online without their consent. 

Despite a general crackdown on Meta within the EU, Brussels is yet to join the momentum initiated by various member states to regulate the newest accessory in tech.

“The European Union already has a solid legal framework governing both artificial intelligence and personal data protection,” said commission spokesperson Markus Lammert in response to privacy questions on Meta’s newest devices on Wednesday (2 September). 

“These rules are applicable regardless of the technology used,” Lammert added.

The commission’s response resembled Instagram’s mother company’s own response to privacy concerns, telling EUobserver that accessories “were built with privacy safeguards from the ground up,” a Meta spokesperson said, arguing that the blinking light makes everyone “feel comfortable.”

The existing EU framework regulating personal data collection through video devices requires consent from those being filmed, except in cases of surveillance monitoring. 

But newly-evolved 'wearable' technology, hitting the market a year after this guidance was published in 2021, raised concerns from digital rights groups about the lack of consent it allows for those being filmed. 

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Despite privacy concerns, lawsuits, cases of medical negligence and bans in the UK and the US, Brussels is yet to confront Meta's 'pervert glasses' (Source: Everyone Hates Elon)

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Gaia Neiman is a migration and politics reporter at EUobserver. She has previously written for Reuters, The Guardian, The Telegraph, among others.

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