Meta Faces Privacy Backlash Over Ray-Ban Meta Glasses

April 12, 2026

Employees at a subcontractor in Nairobi reportedly viewed intimate videos and sensitive data captured by the **Ray-Ban Meta** smart glasses. The revelations contradict marketing claims such as “designed for privacy, controlled by you” and have triggered a US class-action complaint, inquiries by the UK Information Commissioner and calls to the European Commission. Reported examples include nudity, sexual activity, banking details and private conversations. The subcontractor named in reports is **Sama**; manufacturing and brand partners include **EssilorLuxottica**. Meta now faces regulatory and legal exposure, reputational damage, and urgent technical questions about who can access raw, user-captured video and how data annotation pipelines are secured.