Meta says it met Hong Kong privacy watchdog over AI-enabled glasses concerns

Meta Platforms has confirmed it discussed privacy concerns surrounding smart glasses with Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog, as the US tech giant’s AI-enabled eyewear goes on sale in the city amid mounting international scrutiny.

The company briefed Hong Kong media on Monday, days after the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) warned that smart glasses could enable covert recording, excessive collection of personal data, and the processing of sensitive information through AI.

“We take [the PCPD’s] counsel, and we continue to work with them to really make sure that this also addresses any concerns they will have,” Philip Chua, Meta’s public policy director for products in Asia-Pacific, said.

The South China Morning Post has reached out to the PCPD to confirm the engagement.

Meta first entered the smart-glasses market with Ray-Ban Stories in 2021, but its Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta AI glasses only officially went on sale in Hong Kong last month.

The company officially launched its AI assistant in the city in September.

Chua stressed the latest version of the glasses featured a blinking white LED light to alert people nearby whenever photographs or videos were being captured. The camera would automatically stop functioning if the indicator was covered or tampered with, he added.

He said the company had consulted safety experts and women’s safety organisations when developing the safeguards.

When users activated AI features to ask questions about their surroundings, faces, licence plates and other identifying characteristics were automatically blurred, according to Chua.

Chua said Meta had not identified any meaningful differences between the privacy safeguards applied in Hong Kong and those in other jurisdictions under his remit.

In guidance published last Tuesday, the PCPD warned that smart glasses could discreetly capture images and audio, while AI-enabled functions could amplify the risks of collecting personal information.

Privacy Commissioner Ada Chung Lai-ling had urged users to comply with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance and respect others’ privacy.

The watchdog advised users to avoid recording in sensitive locations such as hospitals, clinics and changing rooms, tell people before photographing them, and refrain from collecting unnecessary personal data.

The technology has also faced growing scrutiny overseas.

In August, Meta Platforms moved to close a loophole that reportedly allowed users to conceal the recording indicator after video capture had begun, enabling recordings to continue without a visible warning.

In October, European data protection regulators raised concerns about the possibility of people being recorded without their knowledge, calling for clear and reliable recording indicators.

Two US senators, Ron Wyden and Edward Markey, also launched an inquiry last week into reports that sensitive footage captured through Meta’s glasses had been reviewed by overseas contractors, raising questions about consent and the use of personal information for AI training.

Chua said Meta planned further public education efforts in Hong Kong and elsewhere in Asia-Pacific to promote responsible use of the technology.

Separately, he said Meta Platforms was working to introduce Cantonese support for its AI features in Hong Kong, potentially by early next year, although no firm timetable had been set.