Meta is facing a class action lawsuit in the United States over privacy concerns tied to its AI-powered smart glasses, following reports that contractors reviewed sensitive user footage captured by the devices.
The lawsuit comes after an investigation by Swedish media outlets revealed that workers employed by a Kenya-based subcontractor had access to video and images recorded by customers’ glasses.
According to the reports, some of the footage reviewed included highly sensitive moments such as nudity, people having sex, and individuals using the toilet.
Meta had said that faces captured in images were blurred to protect privacy. However, sources cited in the investigation disputed the effectiveness of the feature, claiming the blurring did not consistently work.
The findings also drew attention from regulators. The United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office confirmed it had opened an investigation into the matter.
In the newly filed complaint in the U.S., plaintiffs Gina Bartone of New Jersey and Mateo Canu of California allege that Meta violated privacy and consumer protection laws. The lawsuit, filed with support from the public interest-focused Clarkson Law Firm, also accuses the company of false advertising.
According to the complaint, Meta marketed the smart glasses using assurances such as “designed for privacy, controlled by you” and “built for your privacy.” The plaintiffs argue these claims could lead users to believe that recordings from the glasses would remain private, without the possibility of being reviewed by overseas contractors.
They also say they were not made aware of any clear disclaimer indicating that the footage, including potentially intimate moments, might be accessed by human reviewers.
The lawsuit names both Meta and its glasses manufacturing partner, Luxottica of America, alleging their conduct violates consumer protection laws.
Responding to the concerns, Meta told the BBC that when users share content with Meta AI, the company may rely on contractors to review the information to improve the product experience. The company said this practice is outlined in its privacy policy and supplemental terms of service.
However, the BBC reported that explicit references to human review were easier to locate in Meta’s U.K. AI terms of service. A version of the policy applicable in the United States states that Meta may review users’ interactions with its AI systems and that such reviews can be conducted either automatically or manually by humans.
