Privacy advocates and cybersecurity researchers are sounding the alarm after **Meta** reportedly deployed facial recognition code to millions of its always-on smart glasses. The revelation, initially reported by **Wired**, has been independently confirmed by **EFF’s Threat Lab** through static analysis of the application. ### How the Technology Works The dangerous new functionality allows the glasses to convert every new face in their sightlines into a unique digital signature, or 'faceprint.' These faceprints are stored as a series of 2,048 numbers, representing the precise positioning of a person’s facial features. When activated, the system continuously compares new faces to an existing database of stored faceprints, effectively creating a distributed surveillance network. ### Code Confirmed Active, Not Yet Publicly Exposed Both **Wired** and **EFF** confirmed the presence and active nature of the code, though it has not yet been exposed to consumers. Further research by an independent expert demonstrated that manually adding a face to the app database—by connecting a phone to a computer in debug mode and issuing specific commands—enabled the glasses to subsequently detect that face when it came into view. ### Meta's Troubled History with Facial Recognition This isn't **Meta**'s first foray into facial recognition, nor is it without controversy. The company previously paid **$650 million** to settle a **BIPA** (Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act) lawsuit challenging its mass facial recognition feature that scanned every photo uploaded to its platform. That feature was eventually shut down by **Meta** in 2021, citing societal concerns. Despite the significant financial and reputational costs associated with its past endeavors, **Meta** appears to be laying the groundwork to turn its customers into a vast, distributed surveillance machine. The **EFF** has urged consumers to [think twice](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/03/think-twice-buying-or-using-metas-ray-bans) before purchasing or using **Meta**'s smart glasses. ### Strategic Deployment Amidst Political Turmoil Adding to the concern, internal **Meta** documents previously revealed the company's intent to launch facial recognition "during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns." This strategic timing suggests a deliberate effort to minimize public scrutiny. However, privacy advocates assure that **Meta**'s surveillance plans will not escape public scrutiny, and they will be closely monitoring any potential rollout to the public. * [Further details on Wired's reporting](https://www.wired.com/story/meta-smart-glasses-face-recognition-nametag-connections/) * [Independent researcher's findings](https://www.buchodi.com/meta-glasses-facial-recognition/) * [TechCrunch report on BIPA settlement](https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/01/facebook-illinois-class-action-bipa/)