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Meta AI App Embeds Unused Facial-Recognition Code, 50M Downloads

6/5/2026

Summary

Meta Embeds FaceTag

Meta Platforms Inc. embedded facial-recognition code “NameTag” in its Meta AI app for smart glasses by January 2026.
The code creates faceprints from captures and stores them in a pending folder.
Meta AI has been downloaded over 50 million times, exposing the hidden feature.
The feature is not enabled and does not send biometric data to Meta’s servers.
Spokesperson Ryan Daniels said the code is exploratory and no product has shipped.

Summary

Meta Bypasses Law

Meta could store facial-recognition data on its glasses in a way that bypasses Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act, which does not cover data kept on a user’s device.
Researchers warned that embedding the capability in glasses shifts facial recognition from deliberate scanning to ambient surveillance.
Meta has not responded to inquiries about user-consent controls or activation timing, contrasting with its earlier transparency commitments after the 2021 facial-recognition shutdown.

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Meta Embeds FaceTag

Meta Platforms Inc. embedded facial-recognition code “NameTag” in its Meta AI app for smart glasses by January 2026.
The code creates faceprints from captures and stores them in a pending folder.
Meta AI has been downloaded over 50 million times, exposing the hidden feature.
The feature is not enabled and does not send biometric data to Meta’s servers.
Spokesperson Ryan Daniels said the code is exploratory and no product has shipped.

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