Zuckerberg Admits, "Meta" Glasses Can Secretly Photograph People

Former comedian and current podcaster Joe Rogan challenged Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg if new Meta smart glasses are a potential source of concern related to privacy violations while hosting him in his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.

Zuckerberg, who joined the podcast in a 3-hour interview, defended the glasses but admitted that it might be possible to film people secretly.

The smart glasses, produced by Mita for the first time in cooperation with the famous Ray-Ban company, were launched in September 2021.

These glasses came with a small, voice-activated camera and microphone on both sides of the frames, allowing users to take pictures or videos.

Zuckerberg told Rogan that the company "continues to work on new versions" of the glasses.

In the conversation, Rogan challenged Meta CEO, asking if such a secret camera could raise privacy concerns. For example, "If only people could start photographing things and people without their knowledge."

Zuckerberg responded that the product comes with a light in the corner that flashes when recording videos or photos, and added, "I think that's a really important part."

However, Rogan responded by asking if the person could place a piece of sticky tape covering the light source so that it would not catch the victim's attention that it was being watched.

Zuckerberg acknowledged the rationale of this possibility, saying, "I think, in theory, yes."

And about the flashing light on smart glasses, Zuckerberg said, "It's blinking, which is a very active indicator," and he said that a piece of adhesive tape could interfere with the glasses' camera.

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is not far from the accusations of breaching its customers' privacy.

The company recently faced a backlash for delivering private Facebook messages to police investigating illegal abortion.