Meta's smart glasses were recording conversations without the wake phrase, company admits

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1. 1h ago

   Meta Confirms Smart Glasses Recorded Audio Without Wake Phrase

   Meta acknowledges that its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses recorded user audio without permission and without requiring the wake phrase. The problem came to light after multiple Reddit users discovered unsolicited audio recordings inside the Meta AI app. Customers have raised privacy alarms, claiming the devices continued listening even while deactivated in sleep mode. A user filed a putative class action in California federal court alleging the glasses secretly recorded private communications without trigger words. Meta states it has resolved the issue, though the company has not explained what caused the glitch.

   Why it matters

   The incident brings immediate scrutiny to always-listening AI wearables, a burgeoning product category for technology companies. Privacy advocates have long warned about the potential for accidental or unprompted surveillance by smart devices equipped with microphones and artificial intelligence. Users discovering the unprompted recordings are being directed by Meta to check their voice logs.

   What is confirmed

   • Meta confirmed that its smart glasses recorded users audio without permission.
   • Meta stated that it fixed an issue where the smart glasses recorded audio without a wake phrase.
   • Reddit users discovered unsolicited audio recordings in the Meta AI app.
   • A putative class action was filed in California federal court alleging Meta glasses recorded communications without trigger words.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Customers claim their conversations are being recorded by Meta Glasses even when the devices are deactivated or in sleep mode.

   What to watch next

   • Further details from Meta regarding the root cause of the recording bug.
   • Developments in the California federal court class action lawsuit against Meta.
   Sources used for this update (16)

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   2. timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Saudi Arabia Turns To Iran Amid Houthi Strikes, Dealing Trump A Major Gulf Blow? - Times of India Videos
   3. mashable.com — Meta confirms smart glasses were recording without being ...
   4. www.pcmag.com — Meta Admits Its Smart Glasses Briefly Recorded Audio Without a Wake Phrase
   5. nypost.com — ‘Something weird is going on’: Meta sparks privacy fears as users claim smartglasses are still recording in ‘sleep’ mode
   6. Ars Technica — Bug turns one of the biggest fears about Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses into reality
   7. Mashable — Meta confirms smart glasses were recording without being activated
   8. Android Authority — Big surprise: Some Ray-Ban Meta owners say their glasses are listening without being asked (Updated)
   9. Futurism — Meta Glasses Said to Be Recording Even When They’re in Sleep Mode
   10. TechSpot — Meta's smart glasses were recording conversations without the wake phrase, company admits
   11. jen.jiji.com — October 17, disinformation runs rampant with protests. Arcadia: "Cognitive warfare also in Italy"
   12. vr.org — Meta's Fix for Unprompted Glasses Recordings Leaves US Owners ...
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