DRAFT: Guide to Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses: Bystander Privacy in a World of Wearable Cameras

Meta and Ray-Ban have recently released the second generation of the smart glasses. The first was called “Ray-Ban Stories.” The new version, introduced in late 2023 is Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.

Both versions have a camera that can take both still and video pictures. The new version also allows for live streamng on Instagram and Facebook. People using the glasses can activate the camera by pressing a capture button on the top of the earpiece stem. Alternatively, users can use a verbal command with Assistant, which they can activate by saying the wake word “Hey Facebook,” or using the touchpad on the side of the earpiece stem.

Images and video from the glasses can be uploaded to a companion iOS or Android app called Facebook View and from there shared to Facebook and Instagram, other apps, or saved to the phone’s camera roll.

When connected by Bluetooth, users will be able to listen to music and other sound from speakers in the glasses’ stems. You can also use the glasses to speak on the phone. With the new glasses, you simply say “Hey Meta, Call” followed by any name in your phone’s contacts. Meta is rolling out other features, including the ability to ask questions and — later in 2024 — be able to say “Look and tell me what you see” to get a description of what’s around you. The glasses cannot recognize people, however.

For the user, these and other smart glasses such as Snap Spectacles make it possible to photograph or video what’s in front of them without having to reach into their pocket for a phone or digital camera. Vuzix, Google, and Epson also offer smart glasses, though their products are designed mostly for business and professional use.

Risks & responsibilities

This relatively new product category brings up questions regarding safety for the user and privacy for anyone who happens to be near someone using the glasses. Users need to follow certain safety rules, like not allowing them to distract you while driving and not using the glasses inappropriately, such as taking images of people without their consent or in private spaces, like locker rooms or bathrooms.

But even if you don’t own a pair of these glasses, you have reason to be concerned about how they impact your privacy and the privacy of others.

It’s not a new concern. When Kodak introduced its first hand-held camera in 1888, some people panicked over what it would mean for personal privacy. In 1901, the New York Times reported how President Theodore Roosevelt admonished a boy using a Kodak to take his picture as he exited a church. “Trying to take a man’s picture as he leaves a house of worship. It is a disgrace. You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” he reportedly said.

Fast forward to 1997 and the invention of the camera phone. That innovation ushered in a new and exciting world of photography but smartphones, which are now ubiquitous and can take pictures and video in ways that may not be as obvious as a stand-alone camera, sparked a new era of concern over the ability to surreptitiously take pictures and videos and record audio.

There are now smartwatches with cameras, along with devices like GoPro, that can be worn on clothing along with millions of closed-circuit security cameras on storefronts, public buildings, and private homes. Safety.com found that the average American is “filmed” by security cameras over 230 times a week.

Social norms are protective

Social norms discourage the use of any type of recording device or camera without the consent of anyone being photographed, and—for the most part—people abide by those norms. But there are some notable exceptions, such as law enforcement, investigative journalism, and use by bystanders of crimes. Had it not been for a smartphone video taken by then 17-year-old Darnella Frazier, the police officer who murdered George Floyd might not have been convicted. There are numerous examples where bystanders have used cell phones to document human rights abuses.

It’s important for everyone—whether you own smart glasses or not—to be aware that they are now part of our environment.

And, though smart glasses are still a relatively new product category, we have every reason to believe they too will mostly be used in an appropriate manner. But, as with any technology, there remains the possibility of abuse. That’s why it’s important for everyone—whether you own a pair of smart glasses or not—to be aware that they are now part of our environment.

Why people get smart glasses

The vast majority of people who own smart glasses will use them responsibly. You might be a parent wanting to capture images of your child at play quickly. You might be a pet owner looking for that perfect and hard-to-get shot of your best friend. A parent at a soccer game can snap a picture of their budding athlete while holding a sippy cup in one hand and a child in the other.  They’re great for listening to music or podcasts and, similar to Apple Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, they are evolving into personal digital assistants that can provide information, through audio only, in response to a voice prompt. There are also numerous professional applications, including surgery, physical therapy, operating machines, performing maintenance work, and much more.

The point is that if you see someone wearing smart glasses, chances are very good that they are doing so for a legitimate reason.

How to know if someone is capturing images or video

Both the old and new version of the glasses from Ray-Ban and Meta  have a white LED that lights up when taking a picture or recording and, according to Meta, can be seen from 25 feet away. The light flashes for a still image and remains on while video is being captured. Audio is captured along with video, but the glasses do not record audio except as part of a video recording. The new Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses version has an even larger light to make it more visible. And, unlike the first version, the newer version’s camera won’t work if someone tries to cover the LED.

While the light is prominent, there is always the possibility that someone might not notice it or know why it is on, which is why it’s important to educate yourself and others on how these glasses operate. It’s also good to understand how the user can trigger a picture or video.

At the end of the day, if someone is intent on capturing a picture of you, there’s a pretty good chance that they’ll be able to do it — whether with a phone, glasses, wearable camera, or some other device.

What the future holds

As technology evolves, expect to see even more sophisticated smart glasses, many with augmented or mixed reality, computer-generated images with a view of the real world. Imagine standing looking at the White House from Pennsylvania Avenue and peering back through time, watching Abraham Lincoln carry out his duties. Or you could be looking at art in a museum or a book and get a full description of what you see.

Already there are industrial and medical applications where smart glasses are used for training and education, real-time collaboration, public safety, to assist in surgery, or help an airline mechanic know exactly where to insert a part. Just as early personal computers and smartphones have evolved, so will smart glasses in ways that we can only imagine.

Closing thoughts

We live in a world where there are cameras in nearly every pocket and on every block. This poses challenges when it comes to protecting your privacy in public. You can’t walk down a street (even a residential street with doorbell and driveway cameras) without the possibility of having your picture taken. It’s our new reality. However, we can and, for the most part, do enjoy privacy in private spaces, despite the fact that nearly everyone around us has a smartphone camera, along with a growing array of other devices that can capture images, video, and audio.

Emerging technology is both a boon and a challenge, but also a fact of life, and, like every once-new technology including matches, kitchen knives, automobiles, and, of course, cameras, there are appropriate and inappropriate uses. The key to any technology is to use it safely and responsibly. There are no guarantees that everyone will use their devices appropriately, but if history is a guide, we can assume that the vast majority of people will.

Most people in public will support privacy norms, and we all can do our part. It’s important to be alert and aware, especially in highly sensitive situations. These risks are real and it’s appropriate for the public and policymakers to look for ways to manage them. Still, it’s also important to consider the benefits that we can gain from these new technologies that will continue to enhance our lives.