Texas Attorney General Opens Investigation Into Meta Glasses Over Biometric Privacy

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses over concerns about the collection of facial geometry and other private data, reviving biometric privacy pressure on the company. Paxton formally issued a Civil Investigative Demand to Meta.

The investigation centers on whether Meta deceptively misrepresents the extent to which it uses consumers’ private data, which would violate Texas law. The Attorney General’s office said Meta Glasses use cameras, speakers, and other components to capture video and audio recordings and the facial geometry of people the wearer encounters.

Several specific concerns were cited. The glasses carry a small LED indicator that is meant to show when recording is active, but the office said the light is easily hidden and does not activate in an always-enabled mode. Meta also plans to add facial recognition to the eyewear through a feature reported internally as Name Tag, which could let the company collect facial geometry from bystanders captured by the cameras. The office further pointed to reporting that data annotators at Sama, a Meta subcontractor, were able to access private moments in recorded footage, with inconsistent face-blurring practices.

“I will continue to relentlessly stand up to any company that threatens the privacy and safety of Texans,” Paxton said. “Meta’s glasses raise serious concerns, and my office will thoroughly investigate these devices to ensure that no individual is being unlawfully recorded, tracked, or subjected to the unauthorized collection of their data.”

The investigation is the second major Texas enforcement action against Meta over biometric data in under two years. In July 2024, the state reached a 1.4 billion dollar settlement with Meta over the unlawful capture and use of facial recognition data through Facebook’s photo-tagging feature, in a case brought under the state’s Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act.

The scrutiny lands as Meta moves toward putting facial recognition on consumer eyewear. The company has been developing facial recognition for its smart glasses despite privacy objections, and the digital rights group EPIC has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate those plans. The Texas demand adds a state enforcement track to that federal-level pressure, focused on what bystanders, not just wearers, are exposed to.

Sources: Office of the Texas Attorney General, CBS News Texas

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By the ID Tech Editorial Team