Meta smart glasses face even more regulator concerns

EssilorLuxotica smart glasses are coming under scrutiny from European Union regulators as more concerns begin to arise about Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses that feature built-in cameras. One of the major concerns with smart glasses as far back as Google Glass has been the presence of a camera that has been perceived as invasive to people’s personal privacy out in public.

This negative perception surrounding the tech hasn’t eased up as time has gone on, and now a new report states that investors are worried about the continued future success of these glasses amid the growing concerns. Specifically, EssilorLuxotica investors are mounting concerns about investment return as it reports third quarter results.

EssilorLuxotica smart glasses are under more scrutiny because of their mainstream appeal

One of the main reasons Google Glass never took off with the majority of consumers is because they didn’t have mainstream appeal. They didn’t look like regular eyewear, were more bulky, and ultimately didn’t appeal visually to the mass of consumers. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are very different in that they look like normal eyewear, and it’s this mainstream appeal that is starting to concern regulators more. More specifically that they look normal and contain cameras capable of recording footage, even in places where such an activity might be prohibited.

This scrutiny has led regulators to discuss more whether or not there should be bans placed on smart glasses in certain areas. For instance, as Reuters reports, Australia has banned AI glasses from being worn in all Western Australia public schools. In the UK, AI glasses have been banned from being worn in courts. The same ban has been placed on AI glasses in New York. While France and the European Union have placed regulator warnings.

In Germany, smart glasses are seemingly facing some of the harshest bans. Camera-equipped glasses are banned in Potsdam from municipal pools and saunas. Hamburg is considering a ban in public places, and an advocacy group in the country is seeking an outright ban altogether.

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