Meta has confirmed that it permanently disabled the cameras on thousands of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses after catching users bypassing the LED light that signals an active recording. The news was first reported by Semafor and later verified by other outlets such as PetaPixel and 9to5Google.
The "Covered" LED Issue
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses record video and photos without needing to take a smartphone out of your pocket. The blinking white LED is specifically designed to warn bystanders that they are being filmed. However, some users found ways to cover or obstruct this light—in some cases, starting the recording normally and hiding the LED afterward to dodge the warning. This issue linked the accessory to non-consensual recordings shared online, sparking heavy criticism from privacy advocacy groups.
Less Than 0.1% of Users, but a Harsh Response
Meta states that less than 0.1% of glasses owners were caught tampering with the system. While a small fraction, it still accounts for thousands of units given the high sales volume over recent years—the company did not disclose an exact number. "The camera will now stop working if the light is covered during a recording," Alex Himel, Meta's VP of Augmented Reality, told Semafor. He acknowledged that the battle is ongoing: "new ways to bypass safeguards will always pop up... we will continue monitoring."
Real-World Backlash
The incident has already triggered real-world backlash: a New York nightclub threatened to permanently ban patrons caught wearing the glasses, and a UK pub chain banned the accessory from its establishments entirely. Reddit users are already discussing potential workarounds to bypass the new software lock. This clash between Meta and those trying to compromise privacy is far from over.