Smart glasses are the latest tech trend that is being pushed on us, given the many social media ads that we are being subjected to for them.
Meta (once again, up to Meta things) is the biggest culprit in this, with ads for their Ray-Ban smart glasses literally flooding every social media platform; you cannot watch a YouTube video without getting an ad for them at least twice.
But as much as these companies want to hype these wearable devices, create FOMO among people, and have influencers post about how very, extremely important these glasses are in protecting people and bettering society, still people are wondering about the concerns these devices raise as well.
The biggest one is related to privacy, which it seems is something all the latest tech developments boil down to and end up violating.
Their ability to secretly record a person without anyone knowing about it is perhaps the most concerning one. Because unlike a phone, which you manually have to take out, direct it toward the person and then record it, letting anyone and everyone know exactly what you’re doing, the same cannot be said for these smart glasses.
One just needs to simply tap a button and lo and behold, it starts to record, with no one the wiser. This is not just some hokum fear-mongering being done either, as women have come forward about being recorded secretly and only getting to know about it from a friend or acquaintance once those videos have hit the internet.
So, while it is easy to record someone with these devices covertly, it is not entirely impossible to detect when someone is doing so. Here, we take a look at a few ways you can figure out if someone is recording you without your consent using these smart glasses.
LED Light
The biggest giveaway that most such wearable devices have currently is a small LED light in one corner of the glasses that lights up when the built-in camera in these glasses is recording. Meta’s privacy guidance for its Ray-Ban glasses also urges owners to actively show people how the light works, “so they know when you’re recording,” and confirms that the camera is disabled if the light gets covered.
The problem is that it is not very easy to see, and one needs to look really carefully at the person’s glasses to catch the light. People are already trying to hide even these very dim lights, with covers and dark stickers.
Meta has recently updated its device where any tampering or destruction of these lights will kill the camera straightaway.
Bulky Shape
Some experts and videos on how to detect these glasses have also noted that another way to detect if someone is wearing smart glasses is to look at their shape. Most would have thick frames to conceal the wiring and hardware required to be built-in so that it can carry out its features like recording, translating, scanning, etc.
Some also have very wacky shapes, probably to make them stand out from other regular glasses.
That might be changing soon, as according to a legal analysis from Purdue Global’s law program, “Manufacturers are moving away from bulky, futuristic designs to fashion-forward frames, making them indistinguishable from regular glasses. Components are becoming smaller and better integrated, reducing the telltale signs of technology.”
Read More: Cred Says Data Won’t Be Shared With Meta: Why Are Smart Users Still Worried?
App That Alerts You To Nearby Smart Glasses
Developer Yves Jeanrenaud has recently launched an Android app called Nearby Glasses, which scans for nearby smart glasses and pushes you a notification when one is detected. Jeanrenaud is said to have created the app after reading a report by 404 Media about how “wearable surveillance devices, including Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, have been used in immigration raids and to film and harass sex workers.”
Jeanrenaud further called smart glasses an “intolerable intrusion, consent-neglecting, horrible piece of tech.”
The developer, speaking to TechCrunch in an email, explained that he created the app after “witnessing the sheer scale and inhumane nature of the abuse these smart glasses are involved in.” He also said that Meta putting face recognition as a default feature in their smart glasses is something that he considers “to be a huge floodgate pushed open for all kinds of privacy-invasive behaviour.”
The app works by reading Bluetooth signals that have a unique manufacturer code for Meta and Snap devices. If this signal is detected, the app sends an alert to the user.
Bluetooth
A separate app is not always needed, though, as one can use their phone’s built-in Bluetooth feature to detect signals from such wearable devices. All smart glasses models are connected to their companion phone over Bluetooth Low Energy. It is this connection that allows the user to execute commands, essentially hands-free, and then collect the data in their phone.
So, if you have suspicions, you can simply open your own Bluetooth device list and look for unfamiliar device signatures, just as you’d notice a stranger’s AirPods showing up in a scan.
Behavioural Signals
The last, but not least, cue to look for is the behaviour of a person. As of now, the smart glasses require a person to remain still and look at the object they’re recording, and also require a physical tap on the frame or a spoken command to trigger the photo or video feature. So someone repeatedly reaching up and tapping the arm of their glasses, especially aimed roughly at you, is a meaningful tell.
Other tells include someone keeping their head unnaturally still and pointed directly at a particular object or a group, rather than glancing around the room the way people normally do.
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: CNET, TechCrunch, NBC News
Find the blogger: @chirali_08
This post is tagged under: smart glasses, Smart Glasses recording, Smart Glasses help, Smart Glasses tips, meta glasses, meta ray-ban glasses, meta ai glasses, meta ray-bans, ai glasses, meta ar glasses, smart glasses detect, smart glasses dangers, smart glasses consent, smart glasses camera recording, hidden camera, smart glasses hidden camera
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