More than 70 people are suing Meta over smart glasses that allegedly recorded them in bathrooms and bedrooms, then sent footage to workers in Kenya

More than 70 people have launched a class-action lawsuit against Meta, alleging that its smart glasses captured intimate footage of users and their families without their knowledge. The legal action claims that sensitive images of people undressing, using the bathroom, and having sex were sent to overseas contractors. These workers in Kenya are reportedly tasked with reviewing and labeling data to train Meta’s artificial intelligence models.

As reported by the LA Times, the lawsuit, which spans 230 pages and was filed in a federal court in Northern California, paints a troubling picture of how these gadgets function in private spaces. One California user identified as PL18 reportedly discovered that his glasses were recording while sitting on a bathroom counter. 

“He noticed that at times photos of his family members using the bathroom and bathing began appearing in his gallery – footage no one in his household intended to take,” the lawsuit said. Another user, Steven Beltran, claimed the device would falsely activate twice a day, leading to unintentional recording.

Meta has pushed back against these claims

Meta has marketed these glasses as a convenient way to handle phone calls, capture video, and interact with an AI assistant without needing a phone. While the company insists it includes privacy features like a recording indicator light, the plaintiffs argue the reality is far more invasive. 

Tina Wolfson, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, noted that users were often unaware of the underlying data processing. “People who bought these glasses and thought that they were cool gadgets weren’t aware that every time they activated AI, video was sent to train Meta’s AI,” said Wolfson, a principal at law firm Ahdoot & Wolfson in Burbank.

The lawsuit alleges that intentional or accidental triggers, such as saying “Hey Meta” or simply adjusting the frames, transmit audio and video to Meta’s servers. “Every activation of the AI features, intentional or accidental, captures video and audio that is transmitted to Meta’s servers, routed overseas, and reviewed by low-paid human workers who watch, label, and embed these moments into Meta’s AI models,” the lawsuit said. 

Meta has pushed back against these claims. A spokesperson stated that the company reviews data to improve user experiences, similar to other industry players, and filters information to protect privacy. Meta maintains that when users ask the AI to identify objects, the images are not saved to the photo gallery and faces are blurred.

Beyond the current recording issues, the lawsuit seeks to block Meta from deploying future biometric tools, specifically a feature known as NameTag. While Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth reportedly mentioned in a July podcast that the tool could help people remember names, it has faced intense backlash. 

In April, the American Civil Liberties Union and over 70 other organizations urged Meta to abandon facial recognition features, citing concerns over civil liberties. Meta has not yet released NameTag, and a spokesperson emphasized that the company is not building a universal face database.