Backlash over Meta smart glasses filming women without consent
Criticism mounts over the use of Meta smart glasses to secretly film women, raising privacy and consent concerns.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The growing use of Meta smart glasses, which can record video discreetly, has sparked a backlash over privacy and consent. The glasses look like ordinary eyewear but have a small camera built into the frame, making it hard for others to know they are being filmed. Several UK venues have already taken steps to restrict their use, and there are calls for clearer regulation.
Beth Knight, then 17, was approached by a stranger at Waterloo station in London. He was wearing Meta glasses and secretly recorded their conversation. The video was later posted online. She only discovered it after searching for keywords on TikTok. The man, who sells courses on how to pick up women, has not responded to requests for comment. Beth reported the incident to British Transport Police and managed to get the post removed.
There is currently no specific law covering the use of smart glasses. While filming in public is generally legal, the law does protect a person's right to a private life. However, enforcement is difficult when content creators are based overseas or act for financial gain. Meta says its glasses have an LED light that activates when recording, and tamper detection technology stops recording if the light is covered. The company said it does not want harassing content on its platforms.
The glasses also have accessibility benefits. They can help visually impaired people read menus, navigate obstacles, and hear conversations more clearly. One user said the glasses give them independence and dignity. But privacy groups and watchdogs are concerned about the potential for misuse, including future features like facial recognition, which could identify people and pull up personal information instantly.
As the technology becomes more widespread, with millions already sold, the debate over how to balance innovation with privacy is likely to intensify.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC One | Channel 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A person was secretly filmed using Meta glasses and the video was posted online without consent. | · | ||
| Around seven million people globally use smart glasses, with numbers expected to rise. | · | · | |
| ATG Entertainment does not allow recording in its venues and would ask anyone doing so to remove glasses and delete footage. | · | · | |
| Beth Knight reported an incident to British Transport Police. | · | · | |
| Comic Con banned smart glasses in the UK to keep celebrity guests happy. | · | · | |
| Meta said it built privacy features into the glasses and works to combat harassing content. | · | · | |
| Meta stated that its smart glasses have an indicator light when recording. | · | · | |
| Millions of smart glasses were sold in the UK last year. | · | · | |
| The shop workers union Usdaw said posting clips filmed without permission should be treated like assaulting staff. | · | · | |
| There is currently no specific law covering the use of smart glasses to record or upload footage. | · | · | |
| Wetherspoons asked customers not to use wearable tech to record in its venues. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The BBC focused on the practical responses from venues and businesses, including Wetherspoons, ATG Entertainment, and Comic Con, as well as the accessibility benefits for visually impaired users. Its tone was balanced, acknowledging both the privacy concerns and the positive uses of the technology.
- “smart glasses have gone from a sci-fi concept to a novelty flop and now a reality one that's growing in popularity but is also worrying many”
- “naturally some places shouldn't be filmed but rules should be applied consistently”
- “imagine someone being in a restaurant for people in society they can just read the menu and make a choice”
5 News centred on Beth Knight's personal experience and the legal gap around smart glasses. It demonstrated how the glasses work and highlighted the lack of a specific law, while also noting the scale of sales in the UK.
- “And because the camera is so small, anyone you're filming may not know you're doing it.”
- “There is no specific law which prohibits the taking or recording or uploading of footage and posting online.”
- “millions of them were sold in the UK last year.”
Channel 4 took a more investigative approach, delving into Beth's story, the man's commercial use of the footage, and broader concerns about data privacy and future facial recognition. It also included a former Meta worker's scepticism about the surveillance economy.
- “I was really scared. I was close to tears once he walked away.”
- “It's just another tool to make our lives a lot easier.”
- “Why would I trust that this deeply personal information would stay private, even if I'm given some kind of assurance?”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.