Facing growing criticism over privacy concerns tied to its smart glasses, Meta says it is rolling out a software update designed to shut off the camera if the device detects that its privacy LED has been damaged or altered. The change is aimed at users who modify the glasses to hide the recording indicator, including cases where people have physically drilled into the LED light.
The company has already taken steps to prevent people from interfering with the privacy light. Beginning with its second-generation glasses, Meta added a safeguard that displays a prompt when the LED is covered with tape or another obstruction, instructing users to uncover the recording indicator. Even so, some modders have managed to bypass that protection through a range of workarounds.
Meta wearables chief Alex Himel told The Verge several weeks ago that a privacy-centered update was in development, shortly after the company introduced lower-cost Meta Glasses that do not carry Ray-Ban branding. Himel said then that Meta recognized the risk of broader misuse as the devices become more widely used.
