The complaint targets Meta’s partnership with EssilorLuxottica, the manufacturer behind the Ray-Ban smart glasses series. HateAid alleges these devices violate the Telecommunications Digital Services Data Protection Act, characterizing the hardware as a strategic maneuver to cement Meta’s data monopoly. Beyond privacy concerns, the NGO points to the company’s practice of using captured video footage to train its artificial intelligence models.
German NGO Targets Meta Smart Glasses in Privacy Crackdown
A tiny camera lens embedded in a standard-looking frame has sparked a legal offensive in Germany, where the digital rights group HateAid filed a criminal complaint against Meta and its retail partners. The organization argues the devices facilitate covert filming, effectively turning everyday eyewear into tools for unauthorized surveillance.
This legal challenge follows growing international pushback against the wearables. Courts in England and Wales recently restricted the use of the glasses, mirroring bans already enforced by various restaurants, theaters, and pubs across the UK. Despite the 'pervert glasses' moniker gaining traction online, Meta expanded the product line in June, introducing three new frames with a starting price of $299. Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, co-CEO of the Berlin-based NGO, asserts the devices represent a fundamental threat to individual privacy rights in public spaces.
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