Smart glasses are an "invasion of privacy," but Ray-Ban Meta are selling better than ever

The smart glasses market is currently dominated by Meta, with its Ray-Ban product accounting for more than 80% of total sales in the category. Designed in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, the glasses retain a classic look but hide an almost invisible camera, speakers and information-displaying lenses.

Despite their popularity, there are still reports of abuse. Women in public are often the targets of unwittingly recorded videos that later circulate online. Because taking photos in public is legal, victims have few legal recourse, and some authors even demand payment to have the footage deleted.

The technology also brings internal complications for Meta. There have been lawsuits from users who claim they were not informed that their footage was being reviewed by humans for the purpose of training the AI. Workers in Kenya tasked with this task have reported seeing graphic content, including sexual acts, that the glasses' owners were not even aware were being recorded.

Despite the controversy, sales are booming. Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that more than seven million pairs have been sold, making the product one of the fastest-growing consumer electronics. The competition is relentless: Apple is developing its own version for next year, Snap is announcing new Specs glasses, and Google is preparing to re-enter the market after the failure of Google Glass a decade ago.

Users like Mark Smith highlight the convenience, such as listening to music while doing household chores or easily taking photos while traveling. However, Smith admits that the small light that indicates recording is almost invisible in daylight. Experts warn that with a projected 100 million users in the coming years, it will be impossible to enforce privacy rules in hospitals or museums. Adding to the concern is Meta's plan to incorporate facial recognition technology, which would allow for instant identification of strangers on the street.