{"id":56104,"date":"2026-07-09T10:01:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T14:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/?p=56104"},"modified":"2026-07-09T10:01:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T14:01:31","slug":"meta-smart-glasses-nametag-privacy-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/meta-smart-glasses-nametag-privacy-concerns\/56104\/","title":{"rendered":"Meta vs. privacy: smart glasses take it a step too far"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tech giants are taking another shot at smart glasses. The idea has long captivated the minds of sci-fi writers and their biggest fans\u00a0\u2014 the denizens of Silicon Valley. Many will remember Google Glass<\/a>, the first real attempt at creating such a device back in 2012. It went down as one of Google\u2019s few major flops.<\/p>\n

Following Google\u2019s glaring failure, other tech giants such as Meta, Apple, and Microsoft temporarily shelved the idea of sleek, lightweight glasses in favor of bulkier VR headsets. One of the main reasons for the shift was that the tech back in the 2010s simply wasn\u2019t advanced enough to pack high-end features and decent battery life into a compact pair of glasses.<\/p>\n

Since then, however, much has changed. Now, tech giants are doing a 180 and pivoting back to smart glasses for everyday use. For instance, just this past June, Snap (the company behind Snapchat) dropped a new version of its glasses called SPECS<\/a>. Rumor has it that Apple might unveil its own take on the tech<\/a> later this year.<\/p>\n

For now, though, the collaboration between Ray-Ban and Meta is the undisputed king of the market. They launched their most advanced smart glasses in 2025, selling over 7 million pairs<\/a> that year alone.<\/p>\n

However, Ray-Ban Meta glasses have been plagued by a string of ugly controversies since early 2026. They all center around a feature that would allow the glasses\u2019 camera to recognize faces within its field of view. When activated, the feature would notify the user whenever the system identified someone.<\/p>\n

What exactly are Ray-Ban Meta glasses?<\/h2>\n

Ray-Ban and Meta first teamed up in 2020<\/a>. At the time, these sleek, high-tech glasses were envisioned as a tie-in for the Metaverse\u00a0\u2014 tech guru Mark Zuckerberg\u2019s massive VR project. As it turned out, the glasses outlived the project they were built for. But let\u2019s not rub salt in Zuckerberg\u2019s wounds. In 2021, Ray-Ban and Meta dropped their first collab: the Ray-Ban Stories glasses. Two years later, the next generation hit the shelves, rebranded simply as Ray-Ban Meta. Then, in 2025, Zuckerberg himself unveiled the AI-powered Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 glasses. That\u2019s the version we\u2019re looking at today.<\/p>\n

\"Mark<\/a>

Mark Zuckerberg wearing Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses during the Gen 2 presentation in 2025. Source<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Unlike the original Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Gen 2 is pitched as a gadget for workouts and everyday life. Initially, the companies offered two frame models \u2014 Wayfarer<\/a> and Headliner<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 both available in a variety of colors. The lenses come in different tint levels: standard clear, dark sunglasses, or photochromic. Prescription lenses are also available for an extra fee.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

At launch, Ray-Ban Meta glasses came in two frame styles: Wayfarer (top) and Headliner (bottom). Source 1<\/a> and Source 2<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Meta later rolled out a few more frame options, including the Oakley Meta HSTN and the Oakley Meta Vanguard (Oakley being another eyewear brand owned by the same parent company as Ray-Ban, EssilorLuxottica). Regardless of the frame model, all these devices<\/a> pack the same core features:<\/p>\n