Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened a new investigation into Meta over concerns that the company’s smart glasses technology may be unlawfully collecting private information from Texans without their knowledge or consent.
The investigation centers on Meta AI Glasses, wearable devices equipped with cameras, microphones, speakers, and communication tools that allow users to capture photos, record video, and interact with artificial intelligence features in real time. According to Paxton’s office, the probe will examine whether the technology violates Texas consumer protection and privacy laws through the collection and processing of sensitive personal data.
State officials say particular attention is being given to the glasses’ “always enabled” mode, which Meta’s privacy policy describes as continuously processing video data for AI-related functions. Investigators are examining whether users and bystanders are fully aware of the extent to which their images, voices, and personal information may be collected while the devices are operating.
The attorney general’s office also raised concerns about the glasses’ recording indicator light, which is intended to notify nearby individuals when audio or video recording is taking place. According to the announcement, investigators believe the light can be concealed and does not activate during certain AI processing functions tied to the device’s always-on capabilities. Officials argue that this could allow people to be recorded or analyzed without clear notice.
The investigation comes amid broader national scrutiny over the rapid expansion of AI-powered wearable technology and facial recognition tools. Paxton’s office said questions remain about how Meta stores, shares, and safeguards the data collected through its smart glasses platform, especially when that data may include biometric identifiers such as facial geometry.
The announcement also referenced allegations involving Sama, a Kenya-based subcontractor previously used by Meta for data annotation services. Reports alleged that workers reviewing user recordings had access to sensitive personal footage and private moments captured through Meta products. While some facial information was reportedly blurred automatically, concerns were raised that the protections were inconsistent and did not always prevent exposure of identifiable individuals.
Adding to the scrutiny are reports that Meta is exploring new facial recognition capabilities for the glasses through a feature reportedly code-named “Name Tag.” According to the attorney general’s office, the feature could potentially identify people captured by the device’s cameras by analyzing facial characteristics, even if those individuals never consented to being scanned or recorded.
Paxton said his office intends to aggressively pursue companies that may threaten Texans’ privacy rights and emphasized that the investigation will determine whether consumers are being secretly recorded, tracked, or subjected to unauthorized data collection practices.
As part of the inquiry, the attorney general’s office has issued a Civil Investigative Demand seeking information about Meta’s data collection methods, privacy disclosures, and handling of consumer information. The legal demand will allow investigators to review company records and determine whether Meta misrepresented how the glasses gather and use user data.
The latest investigation follows a major legal battle between Texas and Meta that concluded in July 2024, when the company agreed to pay $1.4 billion to settle allegations involving improper use of facial recognition technology. The settlement marked one of the largest privacy-related agreements ever reached between a state and a technology company and signaled Texas’ increasingly aggressive approach toward digital privacy enforcement.
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