Kylie Jenner debuted her new Meta glasse. The backlash shows how controversial the tech is. - Business Insider

What the report says

Business Insider reports that Kylie Jenner’s newly designed Meta smart glasses have intensified debate over camera-equipped wearables and AI privacy. The oval-framed glasses, introduced late last month, are part of a product line that BI says sold at least 7 million pairs last year. Jenner’s launch drew critical responses online, including Instagram comments characterizing the device as intrusive, and a British advocacy group reportedly used a bus advertisement featuring her image to criticize the glasses.

The article frames the backlash as part of a broader reaction to Meta’s smart glasses becoming more visible in everyday life. BI notes that the glasses can take hands-free photos and record video, and cites examples of creators using them for prank or pickup-style content, which has contributed to unease about being filmed without obvious consent. The piece also mentions public criticism from Lorde at a Madrid music festival, while observing that Jenner has not appeared to wear the new frames consistently in public since their debut.

A central concern is not only the camera but possible future AI features. BI says facial recognition is not currently available on Meta glasses sold to consumers, but Wired reported that code for a possible “NameTag” feature appeared in a recent software update. Meta spokesperson Carl Woog told BI that the company has not decided whether to release such a feature and said any move would need to address privacy protections.

BI also notes Meta’s argument that smart glasses could help people with disabilities, including blind users or those who struggle to remember faces and names. The report concludes that Meta faces a difficult public-trust challenge: promoting practical benefits while responding to fears about normalized recording and potential facial recognition in social spaces.