In his weekly column, Android Central Senior Content Producer Nick Sutrich delves into all things VR, from new hardware to new games, upcoming technologies, and so much more.
Back in 2014, when Google Glass was pioneering the future of wearable technology, some users gave Google's first pair of smart glasses a bad name. These people would often use the glasses' camera in inappropriate ways, give loud, obnoxious commands to Google Assistant in public, ignoring everyone in the room by staring at the glasses' built-in display, or just generally acting pretentious.
These people quickly became known as "Glassholes," and while Google Glass may not be something you see worn in public anymore, the type of person that embodied this term apparently hasn't gone anywhere. Smart glasses with cameras, like Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, offer an amazing way to capture memories while staying in the moment, but they can also be used in ways that don't consider other people's privacy.
Back in December, cruise line MSC banned these types of smart glasses from its ships, and now the U.S. Air Force is jumping on the bandwagon. As stated in the updated dress and personal appearance guidelines, "It is unauthorized to wear mirrored lenses or smart glasses with photo, video, or artificial intelligence capabilities while in uniform."
That clearly singles out any new smart glasses with cameras, including popular releases from Ray-Ban and Oakley, as well as competing brands like RayNeo and Solos. While there's a large gap in time between Google Glass's original release and these modern takes on the concept, it's clear from product sales that smart glasses with cameras are here to stay.
While the military certainly has the power to restrict the use of these devices among its ranks, things are much harder for ordinary civilians. Recording video with your phone is generally obvious, after all, but an inconspicuous pair of smart glasses isn't. That has given a few lawmakers a referendum to stem the tide of further privacy invasion.
During the 2026 Super Bowl, Ring aired an ad showing off its new Search Party feature to help find a lost pet using the neighborhood's Ring Doorbell cameras. It's a clever use of AI that Ring says is designed to help neighborhoods in meaningful ways, but not everyone thinks so.
Minnesota lawmakers are said to be looking into ways to prevent the sharing of Ring camera data with AI tools like Ring Search Party, but they're not the first to try similar measures. Features like Familiar Faces, found on both Ring Doorbell and Google Nest cameras, aren't available in every U.S. state due to potential privacy-related legal issues, according to the EFF.
Unsurprisingly, Google, Meta, Amazon, and other companies have already settled legal disputes with several states, including Texas and Illinois, over biometric data collection. This includes disputes regarding Nest cameras and automatic photo-tagging recommendations on Facebook.
Given the outcomes of these types of cases, it's clear that states and lawmakers have work to do to protect the privacy of citizens. Facebook shut down its facial recognition program everywhere back in 2021, and it's entirely possible that we may start seeing politicians campaign on these issues in the near future.
The question, of course, is whether anything will (or should) be done about camera-clad smart glasses. Just as some places don't allow flash photography or pets, I can see more places starting to adopt a "no camera glasses" rule. No shirt, no shoes, no service, in other words.
Whether culture ultimately cares enough about privacy, at large, truly remains to be seen. Would you actively support places that ban smart glasses usage, or do you think it's inevitable that most people will wear these types of glasses in the future? I'd love to hear your take in the comments below.
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