Meta develops smart glasses without camera for privacy-conscious users

Meta Targets Camera-Averse Consumers with New Design

Meta is developing a version of its smart glasses without a built-in camera.

The cameraless model will not capture photos or video. Instead, it will allow users to play music and handle phone calls, targeting consumers who find the privacy risks of recording wearables too substantial.

Explosive Sales for Camera-Equipped Eyewear

According to manufacturer figures cited by Tweakers, Meta sold more than seven million units of its camera-enabled glasses in 2025.

That marks a sharp increase from approximately two million combined sales across 2023 and 2024. Competitors including Samsung and Xiaomi have launched rival hardware, while Google and Apple are exploring similar product categories.

Surveillance Scrutiny and Human Reviewers

Privacy regulators and advocacy groups have raised acute concerns regarding stealth recording and data handling. A Swedish review revealed that audio recordings captured for Meta’s artificial intelligence assistant were evaluated by human reviewers in Kenya, prompting the company to introduce a setting allowing users to withdraw consent.

Meanwhile, Wired reported that Meta is testing facial recognition capabilities.

Regulatory Pushback and Institutional Bans

Institutional restrictions have followed the hardware’s market expansion. The Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens) warned that wearable recording devices conflict with European privacy regulations, advising hospitals and courtrooms to ban them.

State secretary Claudia van Bruggen stated that a nationwide legislative ban is currently premature, noting that existing legal frameworks must be tested first. European privacy regulators continue to evaluate the technology and are scheduled to release recommendations regarding clearer recording indicators later this year.