It went bad: launch of Meta glasses is marked by failures With more than 7 million copies sold around the world last year, Meta's smart glasses raise privacy concerns in several countries. In Germany, where the culture of personal data protection is robust, experts are talking about a possible ban on technology, which can be used to film people without consent, while authorities are already proposing localized measures. Smart glasses become a rage in pranks, but raise warning about undue exposure on networks According to the German press, the telecommunications regulatory body in the country is examining the case. In a recent interview with broadcaster ARD, the data protection commissioner in charge of Meta services in Germany, Thomas Fuchs, said that his office is already taking action to prevent hidden filming with glasses, as well as imposing fines for prohibited recordings. Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, wears Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses during the presentation of the new line of smart glasses at the Meta Connect event, in Menlo Park, California (USA), on September 17, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria The expert also added that, due to the difficulty of distinguishing smart glasses in everyday life and identifying when the camera is active, there would be legal justification for a complete ban. The distribution of another person's images without their consent is prohibited under German law. Concern about the issue has already been raised by specialized organizations, political parties and citizens. The organization HateAid, focused on digital rights, warned that "smart glasses with cameras allow discreet recordings, without the people involved noticing. And it is precisely these types of recordings that are increasingly appearing on social media." Concern about swimming pools and saunas In Hamburg, a woman was reportedly inadvertently filmed when she was approached by a stranger while sunbathing in a bikini on the edge of a lake. The images were then posted on the social network TikTok, according to ARD. Similar incidents have been reported in other cities in Germany, such as Cologne, according to media reports. In Potsdam, just outside Berlin, authorities approved a ban on glasses in swimming pools and saunas in June. The same measure was proposed by the Left party in Hamburg. Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives at the Los Angeles Courthouse. REUTERS/Mike Blake In the United States, the state of New York has banned the use of smart glasses in courts at all levels, in order to prevent inappropriate recordings. The concern, according to authorities, came to light after members of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's security team used the devices during his trial in California. Human review of sensitive images In February, two Swedish newspapers revealed that Meta's outsourced workers in Kenya had access to sensitive images filmed through wearers' glasses, including nudity and sexual content. Meta then stated that workers could see videos shared by users with the company. But the case has sparked international controversy, with officials in Kenya and the United Kingdom expressing concern. A lawsuit was opened in the United States against Meta, which later canceled the contract with the Kenyan company. Meta's smart glasses are now also available for sale in Brazil.