Smart glasses dismissed as 'an invasion of privacy' yet Meta's are selling at record pace
The biggest tech firms are set to sell millions of smart glasses despite mounting privacy concerns. Critics warn of unconsented filming and data collection, while regulators in Europe and the United States consider new rules for wearable cameras.
The biggest technology companies are on track to sell millions of smart glasses over the next year. Meta's Ray-Ban collaboration has hit record sales, while Apple, Samsung and Snap are reported to be preparing rival models for launch.
Privacy advocates warn that wearers can record people around them without consent. European Union officials are weighing new rules under the AI Act for wearable cameras, while several US state legislatures are debating limits on devices that do not display clear recording indicators.
Consumer demand looks strong nonetheless. Analysts project that category sales will rise six-fold over the next three years, turning smart glasses into a multi-tens-of-billions-of-dollars global market. The growth is also accelerating investment in on-device AI, miniature camera sensors and low-power display technology.
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