Meta, the tech company behind AI smart glasses, is facing a privacy lawsuit following revelations that subcontractors were reviewing footage containing sensitive content like nudity and intimate moments, raising significant privacy concerns.
An investigation revealed that workers at a Kenya-based subcontractor were accessing footage from customers’ glasses, including instances of nudity, sexual activities, and private moments. Despite Meta’s claims of blurring faces in images, reports suggest that this feature did not consistently protect users’ privacy.
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office has launched an investigation into the matter, and now Meta faces legal action in the US. The lawsuit alleges that Meta misled consumers by promising privacy and control over shared footage, while failing to disclose that overseas workers were reviewing potentially intimate content.
Represented by the Clarkson Law Firm, plaintiffs Gina Bartone and Mateo Canu argue that Meta’s advertising, such as ‘designed for privacy, controlled by you,’ created false expectations regarding the protection of users’ privacy. The lawsuit accuses Meta and its manufacturing partner Luxottica of America of violating consumer protection laws.
With over seven million people expected to own Meta’s smart glasses by 2025, concerns are raised about the scale of potential privacy violations as users’ footage is routinely reviewed without an opt-out option. Meta explained that contractors review shared content to enhance user experience, as outlined in its privacy policy.
Source: TechCrunch