Meta Ray-Ban glasses face backlash: Women secretly filmed, Telegram videos emerge as Mark Zuckerberg’s smart glasses hit privacy row

Meta has been facing growing backlash in the Netherlands over its Ray-Ban smart glasses. One of the largest Dutch eyewear retail chains said on Friday it had suspended sales of the glasses in the Netherlands and Belgium, citing growing privacy concerns. The decision comes as concerns grow over people, particularly women, being secretly filmed using Meta smart glasses, with reports saying footage has circulated in Telegram groups.

Hans Anders, a large eyewear chain in the Netherlands, is pausing sales of Meta glasses. Wehkamp, a Dutch online retailer, is also pausing sales.

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Why has Hans Anders halted Meta glasses sales?

“This decision follows the ongoing public and political debate surrounding smart glasses and the questions being raised about the conditions under which this technology can be used,” a spokesperson for Nexeye, the parent company of Han Anders, told Business Insider.

“Hans Anders believes it is important to await the outcome of this debate and any subsequent decisions before determining whether and how these products may be offered again.” Hans Anders is part of Nexeye, with around 400 stores across the Netherlands and Belgium and more than 2,000 employees.

The retailer’s move follows increasing scrutiny of Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta glasses and concerns about how camera-equipped eyewear can be used in public.

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Women reportedly secretly filmed using Meta glasses

The sales halt comes after a Dutch newspaper, AD, published a story about people, especially women, being surreptitiously filmed in public.

According to NL Times, “hundreds, maybe even thousands” of Dutch females have been secretly filmed using Meta’s smart glasses in recent months, with footage circulating in Telegram groups. Reports said the alleged recordings involved unsuspecting women and girls in places including beaches, shopping streets and bathrooms.

“Our glasses continue to be very popular and we're continuing to expand styles and features,” a Meta spokesperson told Business Insider.

“Every pair with a camera has a bright light on the front that blinks when you take a photo or video — it can't be turned off and the camera is disabled if someone covers or tampers with it.”

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta glasses face wider backlash

The situation is not limited to the Netherlands. In Britain, pub chain Wetherspoon has also restricted the use of Meta smart glasses in its pubs. Other UK venues, including Soho House clubs and ATG theatres, have made similar moves.

Meta’s glasses have a small LED designed to signal when recording is taking place. Critics, however, argue that the indicator can be difficult for other people to notice.

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) has also warned about camera glasses and the difficulty of noticing when someone is being recorded.

“The AP is also investigating the possibilities for further measures against camera glasses and other wearables with a camera,” its statement said.

Meta faces legal pressure over privacy concerns

Consumer rights group Consumentenbond this week said it would take Meta to court unless the company changes the glasses to comply with privacy law.

Offlimits, a group that combats online abuse, on Friday also urged Meta and Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica to voluntarily remove the glasses from sale until a way can be found to make surreptitious recordings impossible.

The Dutch privacy regulator has separately warned that videos showing identifiable people generally cannot be shared or published without their consent, creating particular concerns around recording strangers in public spaces.

Meta defends Ray-Ban smart glasses

Meta has defended its glasses against the privacy concerns, pointing to the indicator light and anti-tampering features designed to permanently disable recording if the light is physically disabled.

The company’s executives have also argued that smartphones have long been capable of surreptitious filming and do not feature a recording indicator light.

A Meta spokesperson said the company is continuing to develop the popular glasses.

“Every pair with a camera has a bright light on the front that blinks when you take a photo or video — it can't be turned off, and the camera is disabled if someone covers ‌or ⁠tampers with it,” they said.

The controversy now puts Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta smart glasses under growing scrutiny as retailers, privacy groups and regulators debate whether the existing safeguards are enough to prevent covert recording.

(With inputs from Reuters)