Meta is implementing some significant updates to the privacy policies regarding its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. In a communication sent on April 29th to users of the glasses, the company highlighted two primary changes. The first adjustment involves enhancing Meta AI’s access to visual data. “Meta AI with camera use is always enabled on your glasses unless you turn off ‘Hey Meta,’” stated the email, referring to the hands-free voice activation feature.
As a result, unless this feature is disabled, Meta will continually analyze the footage captured by the integrated camera. To utilize the Ray-Ban Metas as a conventional camera without AI interaction, users must deactivate “Hey Meta” and rely solely on manual controls.
The second change aligns Meta with Amazon’s approach by removing the option for Ray-Ban Meta owners to opt out of cloud storage for their voice recordings. “The option to disable voice recording storage is no longer available, but you can delete recordings at any time in settings,” the company explained. According to Meta’s voice privacy notice, “voice transcripts and stored audio recordings are kept for up to one year to improve Meta’s products.” If a voice interaction is deemed accidental, those recordings will be deleted within 90 days.
The rationale behind these updates is evident: Meta aims to gather substantial data for its AI models to enhance performance. Some users noted these policy modifications as early as March; however, Meta confirmed they officially took effect in the United States on April 29th.
Additionally, the company is reportedly working on a premium version of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, slated for release in late 2025. The current models start at $299, while the upgraded version could potentially retail for around $1,000. Meta is expected to disclose its Q1 2025 earnings later this Wednesday, during which it will likely address the ongoing tariff issues affecting markets.
