Meta smart glasses now disable cameras if the recording light is tampered with

Meta is pushing a mandatory software update today to its second-generation Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. The new privacy feature shuts off the camera if the recording LED has been tampered with, altered, or destroyed. It expands on an earlier safeguard that already blocked recording when the light was covered. Meta also says it’ll remove ads and marketplace listings for mods that disable the LED, and after reports of glasses being modified for covert recording, the company says legal action against sellers is on the table.

Privacy advocates have warned that this kind of mod can raise the risk of stalking.

If you use Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, this is an update to install. If your concern is being recorded by them, it matters on that side too. Industry reports say smart-glasses shipments jumped 210% in 2024, Meta holds more than 60% of the market, and sales estimates for Meta’s glasses range from 2 million units to more than 7 million pairs.

It’s a solid fix, but it isn’t foolproof. Apple, Google, and Snap are all chasing similar eyewear, and Meta is also facing European scrutiny over repairability and software rules. Trust is still going to come down to visible safeguards and whether the company enforces them consistently. The mandatory update is rolling out now to Meta’s second-generation Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.