Meta Secretly Embedded Face Recognition Code in Smart Glasses App
Original: Meta Silently Added Face-Recognition Code for Its Smart Glasses to Millions of Phones
Why This Matters
Signals Meta's return to controversial facial recognition despite past legal settlements
Meta quietly integrated face-recognition technology called 'NameTag' into its AI app downloaded over 50 million times, despite publicly stating it was still considering the feature. The system identifies people through smart glasses cameras using biometric data.
WIRED's code analysis revealed Meta embedded face-recognition technology 'NameTag' in its AI companion app as early as January, while publicly claiming it was still 'thinking through' such features. The unreleased system identifies people captured by Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses cameras, creating biometric signatures to match against phone-stored faceprints. Three AI models for face detection, cropping, and encoding are already deployed on users' devices. This marks Meta's return to face recognition after deleting over 1 billion faceprints in 2021 following privacy controversies. The company paid $650 million and $1.4 billion in separate settlements over biometric data collection. Privacy advocates warn the technology could enable misuse by stalkers and law enforcement.