Full Breakdown
European Outcry Over AI-Powered “Pervert” Smart Glasses
By Drooid · · How we work
Rising Outcry and Public Action
Calls for regulation of AI-enabled smart glasses have intensified across Europe after covert recordings of women surfaced online. In Britain, a “Stop Smart Glasses” petition has gathered more than 9,100 signatures, with a government response triggered once it reaches 10,000. Oslo has already banned the devices in schools, and France’s CNIL data-protection watchdog urges vigilance. The controversy centers on the glasses’ ability to capture photos, video, audio and interact with AI assistants, raising fears of non-consensual surveillance.
Sales Surge and Market Push
Meta’s partnership with Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica has driven rapid adoption. The company sold roughly seven million pairs in 2025, up from a combined two million in 2023-2024. Other firms—including Google and Snap—are preparing their own AI-enabled spectacles, positioning wearable tech as the next major consumer platform.
Privacy Concerns and Political Response
Swedish designer Mateusz Pozar launched the “Ban Ray” website after his girlfriend was approached by men wearing the glasses and filmed without consent. He frames the issue as a societal debate over privacy and data control. EU lawmaker Veronika Cifrova Ostrihonova (Slovakia) has asked the European Commission whether the devices comply with data-protection and AI rules, noting she is still awaiting an answer. Lawmaker Alex Agius Saliba (Malta) warned that the glasses are “still ‘pervert glasses’” and called for an immediate ban until safety can be proven.
Official Company and EU Reactions
Meta told AFP it has added multiple safeguards, including a blinking LED intended to signal recording, and claims that companies disabling the LED have ceased operations. The European Commission stated that national data-protection authorities are “responsible for monitoring and enforcing” privacy rules, while the independent European Data Protection Board will issue a report on the glasses’ “social acceptability” in the autumn.
Verbatim Quote
- “For me, they are still 'pervert glasses',” — Alex Agius Saliba
These developments illustrate a clash between rapid wearable-tech growth and emerging privacy safeguards, prompting governments, activists and consumers to demand clearer regulations before the devices become ubiquitous.