German regulators push for EU-wide Meta smart glasses ban

German rights groups and regulators are intensifying pressure to ban Meta's ↗ 1.02% Ray-Ban smart glasses, as a growing wave of incidents across Europe raises alarm over covert recording and harassment enabled by the wearable devices.

Germany Weighs EU-Wide Action

Digital rights organization HateAid said Monday that police in Potsdam have received complaints from young women who allege male strangers secretly filmed them at a public swimming pool using Meta Glasses. "This technology is fueling digital violence, as perpetrators now need virtually no technical know-how," HateAid said.dw+1

Thomas Fuchs, the data protection commissioner for the German state of Hamburg, told broadcaster ARD that he believes an outright ban on smart glasses is possible. His office tested the glasses and found the LED indicator meant to alert bystanders that recording is underway is "far too faint to be visible in normal daylight," he said. Fuchs disclosed that he is engaging with colleagues in Ireland, where Meta has its European headquarters, to develop EU-wide policy on the technology.gazettengr+1

Police Investigate TikToker in Scotland

The German calls come as Police Scotland confirmed it is investigating TikToker Scott Margerison, known online as E Dobbin, who allegedly used Meta smart glasses to secretly record hundreds of videos during a road trip around Scotland. Videos reportedly show Margerison making sexualized comments about young women and girls who do not appear to know they are being filmed. The ferry operator CalMac paused public bridge visits on its vessels after discovering its crew had been covertly recorded.petapixel+2

Meta's Anti-Creep Measures Face Skepticism

Meta has responded to the mounting backlash by implementing platform bans and hardware updates. Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced that videos filmed with Meta glasses showing harassment of strangers would be banned on the platform. Last month, Meta rolled out a software update meant to prevent recording if the capture LED is tampered with or destroyed.mediapost+2

However, critics say these measures remain easy to sidestep. Engadget found that the indicator light can be blocked with cheap stickers purchased online, and recent YouTube videos suggest some users have continued recording after drilling out the light entirely. Apple ↘ 0.80% is reportedly delaying its own smart glasses until 2027 in part to develop stronger privacy features that would distinguish its approach from Meta's.gizmodo+2