Hans Anders suspends sales of Meta smart glasses

Dutch organisations Offlimits and The Firewall said on 29 September that they had demanded Meta and EssilorLuxottica withdraw Meta glasses while covert filming remains possible. They also want Meta to stop processing recordings of people who have not expressly consented. They have given Meta until 13 October 2026 to comply and discuss a solution, threatening urgent proceedings at Amsterdam District Court if the glasses are not withdrawn. [1]

Offlimits says people filmed without their knowledge using the glasses have contacted its helpline. Otto Volgenant, a lawyer representing Offlimits, alleges that every recording reaches Meta’s systems and that Meta’s processing breaches EU privacy law. [1] [2]

A September test by Dutch consumer group Consumentenbond found that an ordinary sticker stopped a Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer pair from filming, but a different covering allowed recording to continue. The group last checked the pair on 2 September using Meta software version 127. Meta says its second-generation glasses disable the camera when they detect that the recording light is covered. [3] [4]

Meta also says photos and videos captured for a user’s gallery remain on the glasses until the user chooses to import them to a phone. That differs from Volgenant’s claim that every recording reaches Meta’s systems. [4] [1]

The Dutch privacy regulator has warned that footage from camera glasses cannot simply be made public without regard for the people filmed. It is considering whether further measures, including design changes, are possible. [6]

Update

A Hans Anders spokesperson told news agency ANP that public and political debate about smart glasses, including questions about the conditions for their use, prompted the suspension. Dutch organisations have threatened legal action against Meta over the glasses, while the Dutch House of Representatives wants a clearer ban on wearing them. [7]