Researchers Find Hidden Face-Recognition Code in Meta's Smart Glasses Platform
Security researchers reviewing code for Meta's smart glasses platform have uncovered an unreleased face-recognition system that was silently distributed to millions of phones.
The face-recognition code was found embedded within the Meta View companion app, which powers the company's Ray-Ban smart glasses. According to analysis of the code, the system is designed to identify individuals by matching biometric data stored locally on users' devices rather than in cloud-based databases.
The discovery raises questions about Meta's software development practices, particularly regarding the distribution of experimental biometric features. The code appeared to be functional but was not publicly announced or made available to consumers.
Face-recognition technology on wearable devices has faced regulatory scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions due to privacy concerns. Several U.S. cities have banned or restricted the use of facial recognition by law enforcement, and the European Union's AI Act imposes strict requirements on real-time biometric identification systems.
Meta has not commented publicly on when or whether the feature might be officially released. The company has previously faced regulatory challenges related to biometric data handling, including a $650 million settlement in Illinois over similar concerns.
This finding highlights the growing complexity of smartphone app ecosystems, where features can be bundled into updates and distributed at scale before any public announcement or regulatory review occurs.