• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

U.S. Treasury has borrowed $155 billion every month of this fiscal year—and is now paying $24 billion a week in interest on its debts

2

Top Iranian officials admitted to the supreme leader that the U.S. naval blockade was crushing the economy, report says, as Trump eyes reimposing it

3

Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts

1

U.S. Treasury has borrowed $155 billion every month of this fiscal year—and is now paying $24 billion a week in interest on its debts

2

Top Iranian officials admitted to the supreme leader that the U.S. naval blockade was crushing the economy, report says, as Trump eyes reimposing it

3

Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts
Big TechMeta

Meta added a privacy-safety feature to its AI glasses but is reportedly testing a ‘super-sensing’ prototype

Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 11, 2026, 6:00 AM ET
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc.
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc.David Paul Morris—Bloomberg via Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Meta is cracking down on covert recording with its Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, even as it reportedly tests a prototype which may raise even more privacy concerns.

Recommended Video

In a blog post this week, Meta said it is updating the second-generation smart glasses so the camera will shut off if the device detects the LED that lights up during recording has been tampered with or destroyed. The glasses already disable the camera when the LED is covered. 

Meta said in the blog post that a blinking LED is an appropriate visual warning to deter covert photography, arguing that a camera-shutter sound that’s loud enough for people nearby to hear would not be practical for its glasses.

Still, at the heart of the privacy debate is how easily smart glasses, like those made by Meta, allow someone to record another person without attracting attention. While a smartphone generally has to be pointed directly at someone to record them, glasses can capture photos or video simply by looking at them.

The LED recording light, which has been a standard feature on Meta’s line of smart glasses since they were first released in 2021, was meant to address that concern. But critics have questioned how effective it has been, partly because some people don’t recognize what the blinking light means or can’t see it well in the daytime—also because some users have found ways to disable it.

Meta for its part said in its blog post that week that it is removing Facebook Marketplace listings for people offering to disable the LED on the glasses and may ban accounts or pursue legal action against people providing these services.

“More and more people use our AI glasses because they’re genuinely helpful in everyday moments like listening to music, getting live translation while traveling, or making a call hands-free.The people who use them and those around them need to trust them. That’s why we built privacy into our AI glasses from the ground up.” said Meta spokesperson Dina El-Kassaby. “We will keep strengthening our protections as our glasses become even more capable.”

Pressure has been building for Meta to tighten its safeguards. Earlier this year, the company was named in a lawsuit alleging that intimate moments captured by users’ smart glasses were later viewed by workers in Kenya who were reviewing the material to help train Meta’s AI models.

“People changing clothes, using the bathroom, engaging in sexual activity, handling financial information, and conducting other private activities inside their homes that no reasonable consumer would ever expect a stranger to watch,” the complaint states, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Photos and videos captured by a user remain private unless they choose to share them. However, when media is shared with Meta AI, contractors may sometimes review it to improve the product. This material is filtered to protect privacy and remove identifying information.

At the same time, the Financial Times reported this week that the company is testing prototype “super-sensing” glasses that would collect continuous audio and take photos every few seconds, allowing users to later query the glasses’ AI about what they saw or heard.

Executives have discussed not activating the LED while those features are in use, the FT reported, although the plans could still change. Raw footage and audio would also not be stored by Meta or be able to be accessed by the user. 

“Our approach has been to develop new technologies that will help people throughout their day with privacy built in from the ground up. This work includes projects like our Aria research glasses that we showed at Connect, which uses privacy protective technologies to help people without capturing photos and videos the way traditional cameras work. While we don’t comment on internal prototypes, we’re committed to getting our glasses right because they need to be loved by both people wearing them and those around them,” said El-Kassaby, the Meta spokesperson.

Mark McCreary, a partner and chief artificial intelligence and information security officer at law firm Fox Rothschild, told Fortune that the anti-tampering safeguard on the smart glasses was a positive move. But he said it appears at odds with the Financial Times report about Meta’s super-sensing prototype.

“I mean, a cynic could say, ‘Don’t look at the fire. Look over here.’ This could be a reaction to what’s happening with the reporting about their potential new product,” McCreary said.

He added that the company’s advertising-driven business model heightens those concerns.

“I think we’ve all seen the different times over the years where Meta has been a little fast and loose with the use of their customers’ personal information,” he said. “They’ve built an entire business where 90 plus percent of their revenue comes from advertising, knowing everything they can about you and me, and then selling that to companies that will advertise to you and me.”

AI glasses add another privacy complication because the wearer may have agreed that material they choose to share with Meta AI can be reviewed or used to improve its products, while bystanders appearing in their footage or photos may not have given consent.

How consumers respond may depend on whether they view the use of photos and audio as more invasive than how other tech companies already collect massive amounts of their data.

“It’s unknown,” McCreary said. “We’re going to have to wait and see how much people feel there’s an ick factor there—or how much we’re past it and privacy is dead.”

Subscribe to Fortune Gulf Brief. Every Tuesday, this new newsletter delivers clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it. Sign up here.
About the Author
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezReporter
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Role: Reporter
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez is a reporter for Fortune covering general business news.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Big Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Big Tech

Meta added a privacy-safety feature to its AI glasses but is reportedly testing a ‘super-sensing’ prototype
Big TechMeta
Meta added a privacy-safety feature to its AI glasses but is reportedly testing a ‘super-sensing’ prototype
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 11, 2026
4 hours ago
How SK Hynix just pulled off the second-largest U.S. share sale by quietly powering the AI boom
AsiaIPOs
How SK Hynix just pulled off the second-largest U.S. share sale by quietly powering the AI boom
By Nicholas GordonJuly 11, 2026
5 hours ago
Apple accuses OpenAI, and former design star Jony Ive’s io Products firm, of stealing hardware trade secrets in blockbuster lawsuit
Big TechApple
Apple accuses OpenAI, and former design star Jony Ive’s io Products firm, of stealing hardware trade secrets in blockbuster lawsuit
By Sebastian HerreraJuly 10, 2026
15 hours ago
A row of people sit in a zoning meeting, many looking down or around the room.
EnvironmentData centers
Wyoming officials say Meta’s 715,000-square-foot data center is responsible for contaminating its water system with a rare bacterium
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 10, 2026
23 hours ago
Werner Vogels, CTO, Amazon on stage.
AIAmazon
Companies are shifting toward cheaper open‑source AI models to rein in costs, Amazon CTO says
By Beatrice NolanJuly 10, 2026
1 day ago
Microsoft’s emissions surged 25% in 2025 during data center boom
EnvironmentMicrosoft
Microsoft’s emissions surged 25% in 2025 during data center boom
By Matt Day and BloombergJuly 9, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

U.S. Treasury has borrowed $155 billion every month of this fiscal year—and is now paying $24 billion a week in interest on its debts
Economy
U.S. Treasury has borrowed $155 billion every month of this fiscal year—and is now paying $24 billion a week in interest on its debts
By Eleanor PringleJuly 10, 2026
1 day ago
Top Iranian officials admitted to the supreme leader that the U.S. naval blockade was crushing the economy, report says, as Trump eyes reimposing it
Middle East
Top Iranian officials admitted to the supreme leader that the U.S. naval blockade was crushing the economy, report says, as Trump eyes reimposing it
By Jason MaJuly 10, 2026
22 hours ago
Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts
Success
Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts
By Emma BurleighJuly 9, 2026
2 days ago
Wyoming officials say Meta’s 715,000-square-foot data center is responsible for contaminating its water system with a rare bacterium
Environment
Wyoming officials say Meta’s 715,000-square-foot data center is responsible for contaminating its water system with a rare bacterium
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 10, 2026
23 hours ago
Farm groups saved Bayer in court over RoundUp cancer claims. Five days later, Bayer called for tariffs on the ingredient farmers rely on
Economy
Farm groups saved Bayer in court over RoundUp cancer claims. Five days later, Bayer called for tariffs on the ingredient farmers rely on
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 9, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of July 10, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 10, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 10, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.