Business

Meta Ray-Ban glasses face backlash

By Sohail Khan 3 October 2026, 11:08 pm

Benchmarks
Nifty22,421.95-198.5

FEATURED FUNDS★★★★★

Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth

5Y Return
19.6 %

Invest Now

Enter search text:

Business News›News›International›Global Trends›Meta Ray-Ban glasses face backlash: Women secretly filmed, Telegram videos emerge as Mark Zuckerberg’s smart glasses hit privacy row

Read Today's Paper

Meta Ray-Ban glasses face backlash: Women secretly filmed, Telegram videos emerge as Mark Zuckerberg’s smart glasses hit privacy row
Synopsis

Meta Ray-Ban glasses ban: In the Netherlands, eyewear retailers are halting the sales of Meta's smart glasses amidst growing public anxiety regarding privacy. Reports reveal an uptick in secret filming of women, with these recordings allegedly circulating in online communities. The Dutch Data Protection Authority is actively investigating this issue fueled by public outrage.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wears the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses — Meta’s glasses have a small LED designed to signal when recording is taking place.

Meta has been facing growing backlash in the Netherlands over its Ray-Ban smart glasses. One of the largest Dutch eyewear retail chains said on Friday it had suspended sales of the glasses in the Netherlands and Belgium, citing growing privacy concerns. The decision comes as concerns grow over people, particularly women, being secretly filmed using Meta smart glasses, with reports saying footage has circulated in Telegram groups.

Hans Anders, a large eyewear chain in the Netherlands, is pausing sales of Meta glasses. Wehkamp, a Dutch online retailer, is also pausing sales.

ALSO READ: Greg Lui DOJ charges

Why has Hans Anders halted Meta glasses sales?

“This decision follows the ongoing public and political debate surrounding smart glasses and the questions being raised about the conditions under which this technology can be used,” a spokesperson for Nexeye, the parent company of Han Anders, told Business Insider.

“Hans Anders believes it is important to await the outcome of this debate and any subsequent decisions before determining whether and how these products may be offered again.” Hans Anders is part of Nexeye, with around 400 stores across the Netherlands and Belgium and more than 2,000 employees.

The retailer’s move follows increasing scrutiny of Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta glasses and concerns about how camera-equipped eyewear can be used in public.

ALSO READ: Texas mom Cibelle Savella kills 4-year-old daughter and herself after custody ruling; husband and babysitter were inside $1.1 million home when shots rang out

Women reportedly secretly filmed using Meta glasses

The sales halt comes after a Dutch newspaper, AD, published a story about people, especially women, being surreptitiously filmed in public.

Agencies

Mark Zuckerberg, cofounder, Meta

Reuters

Meta’s glasses have a small LED designed to signal when recording is taking place.

According to NL Times, “hundreds, maybe even thousands” of Dutch females have been secretly filmed using Meta’s smart glasses in recent months, with footage circulating in Telegram groups. Reports said the alleged recordings involved unsuspecting women and girls in places including beaches, shopping streets and bathrooms.

“Our glasses continue to be very popular and we're continuing to expand styles and features,” a Meta spokesperson told Business Insider.

“Every pair with a camera has a bright light on the front that blinks when you take a photo or video — it can't be turned off and the camera is disabled if someone covers or tampers with it.”

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta glasses face wider backlash

The situation is not limited to the Netherlands. In Britain, pub chain Wetherspoon has also restricted the use of Meta smart glasses in its pubs. Other UK venues, including Soho House clubs and ATG theatres, have made similar moves.

Meta’s glasses have a small LED designed to signal when recording is taking place. Critics, however, argue that the indicator can be difficult for other people to notice.

The Dutch Data Protection Authority has also warned about camera glasses and the difficulty of noticing when someone is being recorded.

“The AP is also investigating the possibilities for further measures against camera glasses and other wearables with a camera,” its statement said.

Meta faces legal pressure over privacy concerns

Consumer rights group Consumentenbond this week said it would take Meta to court unless the company changes the glasses to comply with privacy law.

Offlimits, a group that combats online abuse, on Friday also urged Meta and Ray-Ban owner EssilorLuxottica to voluntarily remove the glasses from sale until a way can be found to make surreptitious recordings impossible.

The Dutch privacy regulator has separately warned that videos showing identifiable people generally cannot be shared or published without their consent, creating particular concerns around recording strangers in public spaces.

Meta defends Ray-Ban smart glasses

Meta has defended its glasses against the privacy concerns, pointing to the indicator light and anti-tampering features designed to permanently disable recording if the light is physically disabled.

The company’s executives have also argued that smartphones have long been capable of surreptitious filming and do not feature a recording indicator light.

A Meta spokesperson said the company is continuing to develop the popular glasses.

“Every pair with a camera has a bright light on the front that blinks when you take a photo or video — it can't be turned off, and the camera is disabled if someone covers ‌or ⁠tampers with it,” they said.

The controversy now puts Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta smart glasses under growing scrutiny as retailers, privacy groups and regulators debate whether the existing safeguards are enough to prevent covert recording.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Add Now!

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

Read More News on
Mark ZuckerbergMeta glassesMeta glasses privacy concernswomen secretly filmedTelegram groupsMeta smart glasses controversyNetherlands Meta glasses banMeta glasses recording

Enter search text:

Continue reading with one of these options:
Limited Access
Free
Login to get access to some exclusive stories

& personalised newsletters
Login Now

Unlimited Access
Starting @ Rs120/month
Get access to exclusive stories, expert opinions &

in-depth stock reports
Subscribe Now

Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL

15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers

Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00

I'd rather pay ₹2599 now

Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today!

Subscribe to gain powerful insights on business, stock market and industry trends.

Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off

Student Only Offer

Already a Member? Sign In now

Already a Member? Sign In now
Already a Member? Sign In now

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Special Offer

Get flat 40% off on ETPrime

Avail Offer
Avail Offer

Claim NowAlready a Member? Sign In now

Need Assistance?

Connect with an ETPrime expert for personalized support and guidance

+91 9484700004

' + h3 + '

' + h4 + '

' + listing + '

What’s Included with

ETPrime Membership

1Exclusive Insights That Matter

Uncover the truth with our investigative stories

Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies

Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends

Spot opportunities with in-depth insights that matter

Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US

What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising
Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer.

Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?
Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?

The problem with lab grown diamonds
Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy

A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year