Meta glasses under fire: stores stop, lawsuit threatens

Meta is under pressure due to the sale of its camera glasses, the Ray-Ban Display. Two organizations, Offlimits and The Firewall, as well as the Consumers' Association, have summoned Meta to cease sales, to which they must respond by October 13, 2026. If an adequate response is not forthcoming, lawsuits threaten. The Meta glasses are no longer sold by Hans Anders and Wehkamp, while the House of Representatives has initiated an investigation into the use of camera glasses.

A point of concern is that the glasses, equipped with a camera and microphones, are capable of filming people without their knowledge. Critics have dubbed the glasses the ‘peeping glasses’. Importantly, an LED light on the glasses is supposed to indicate when the camera is recording. However, tests have shown that this light can be covered up, allowing the recording function to operate unnoticed. This raises serious concerns about privacy violations.

Organizations such as Offlimits support victims of online boundary violations and emphasize the risks these devices entail. Director Robbert Hoving has stated that the use of a camera in everyday objects can have serious consequences. The Data Protection Authority has also warned that filming others with camera glasses is prohibited in almost all cases, but there are reports of frequent abuse.

On October 1, 2026, Hans Anders ceased the sale of the Meta glasses in the Netherlands and Belgium, while Wehkamp made the same decision. The House of Representatives has passed a motion requesting the cabinet to investigate, together with the Data Protection Authority, the possibilities for a further ban. This investigation is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2027. The European discussion on the use of such technologies appears to be in full swing, and other countries, such as Norway, are considering similar restrictions.

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