Meta's camera-free smart glasses raise questions about shedding a controversial image

Meta has released a version of its smart glasses that strips out the camera feature, an audio-only design that comes after the original camera-equipped glasses drew criticism and were dubbed 'pervert glasses' by some critics over privacy concerns.

The earlier glasses, which allowed wearers to discreetly record video and photos, faced backlash from privacy advocates and members of the public who worried about being filmed without consent in everyday settings. That controversy shaped much of the public conversation around the product line.

Testing whether image can change

By removing the camera altogether, Meta appears to be attempting to address those concerns directly and reposition the glasses as a more socially acceptable wearable. The audio-only approach shifts the product's functionality toward voice and sound-based features rather than visual capture.

Whether the change is enough to shift public perception remains an open question. Critics and commentators have raised doubts about whether removing the camera alone will be sufficient to undo the reputation the original glasses developed, given how strongly the privacy backlash was tied to the product's identity.

The camera-free glasses represent one of several recent moves by Meta to adjust its wearable device strategy amid continued scrutiny of how the company handles privacy in its hardware products.