Meta’s ‘spy glasses’ may get a camera-free version soon: Report

Meta is reportedly working on a new pair of smart glasses without a camera, a major change from its existing Ray-Ban Meta lineup. The reported move comes as camera-equipped smart glasses face growing privacy concerns and bans in places such as schools and cinemas. The new glasses, reportedly codenamed “Luna,” are expected to focus on voice-based AI instead of photo and video recording. According to The Information, Meta could unveil the glasses at its developer conference on September 23-24, with shipments expected to begin in October.As per the report, Luna will have six built-in microphones and a side button that can give users quick access to Meta AI. The glasses are also expected to support Meta's new consumer AI agent, Muse. The speakers are reportedly similar to those used in Meta's current smart glasses.Why Meta glasses are facing privacy concernsThe reported camera-free glasses come as Meta smart glasses face growing privacy concerns. A BBC investigation in January this year identified dozens of accounts that had posted videos of women recorded in public without their consent using Meta glasses. One such video showed the face and phone number of a 21-year-old woman and received more than 1.3 million views.The concerns have also spread to public places. Schools, cinemas and other venues have increasingly banned smart glasses because of the possibility of people being recorded without their knowledge.Luna could focus on Meta AI instead of recordingThe reported Luna design suggests Meta may be trying a different approach to AI glasses. The six microphones could make voice interaction the main way users communicate with Meta AI and Muse. The absence of a camera could also make the glasses more acceptable in places where recording devices are not allowed.Meta's existing Ray-Ban Meta glasses have reportedly sold around 7 million units, showing strong interest in AI-powered wearable devices. The challenge for Luna will be whether consumers find voice-based AI useful enough without the camera features that helped make smart glasses attractive.Meta has already tried to stop hidden recordingMeta announced a software update in July 2026 aimed at detecting when the recording LED has been “physically tampered with or destroyed.” The company said it would block camera recording when such tampering is detected.Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth has also said the recording light was designed so that people nearby could notice when the camera is being used. However, the privacy debate has continued as more people use camera-equipped smart glasses.Developers are building tools to detect smart glassesPrivacy concerns have also led to independent tools designed to identify nearby smart glasses. One example is ZuckOff, a free mobile app developed by Polish developer Pawel Szydlowski. The app uses Bluetooth signals to identify smart glasses that may be nearby.The app can recognise signals associated with devices including Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta and Snap Spectacles. It can provide an approximate idea of how close a pair of glasses is, although it cannot tell whether the glasses are actively recording or identify the person wearing them.Meta expands its AI subscription businessThe reported Luna launch comes as Meta expands its paid AI services. On September 15, Meta announced Meta One, a subscription service offering additional AI features across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp. The company said the service has already reached 15 million subscriptions and trials during its phased rollout. Meta plans to expand the service to Edits and AI glasses.Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App.