Meta is reconsidering adding facial recognition to its smart glasses after abandoning it in 2021

Meta is reportedly considering shifting course on facial recognition technology, adding software to its smart glasses that can scan the faces of people around it and identify their names, and the company is also considering equipping its future camera-equipped AI-enabled earbuds with the technology.

Meta Renews Work on Facial Recognition Tech as Privacy Worries Fade — The Information
https://www.theinformation.com/articles/meta-renews-work-facial-recognition-tech-privacy-worries-fade

Meta is reportedly working on facial recognition for its AI glasses
https://www.engadget.com/wearables/meta-is-reportedly-working-on-facial-recognition-for-its-ai-glasses-195502788.html

Meta Reportedly Wants to Add Facial Recognition Tech to AI Glasses—Will This Be a Privacy Issue?
https://www.techtimes.com/articles/310258/20250507/meta-reportedly-wants-add-facial-recognition-tech-ai-glasseswill-this-privacy-issue.htm

According to The Information, the facial recognition technology has been named 'Supersensing' within Meta and is built on a feature called 'Live AI' built into the smart glasses.

Due to battery limitations, this AI function will only work for about 30 minutes at the time of writing, but a new model scheduled to be released in 2026 will be able to operate for several hours.

In 2021, Meta announced that it would end Facebook's facial recognition system and discard more than 1 billion pieces of facial recognition data after receiving a lot of criticism. This facial recognition system is a function that automatically notifies and tags people when they appear in photos and videos posted by users, and is almost the same as the SuperSensing mode reported this time.

An Update On Our Use of Face Recognition
https://about.fb.com/news/2021/11/update-on-use-of-face-recognition/

However, the SuperSensing mode is not enabled by default and users must enable it manually, but the ability to arbitrarily scan the faces of people around you and register their names is sure to raise privacy concerns.

At the time of writing, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses from Meta are equipped with a super-wide 12MP camera and microphone, allowing you to take photos and record videos. When shooting, an LED indicator built into the glasses always lights up, letting you know that you are shooting from the surroundings.

However, The Information reports that Meta is considering whether the LED indicator light function is appropriate. The Information also points out that since the Trump administration, the Federal Trade Commission has been reluctant to regulate Big Tech, including Meta, and that Meta's ethics are beginning to be distorted again.

Please note that the facial recognition function using the built-in camera in smart glasses may be subject to restrictions in the EU, South Korea, and some states in the US due to regulations.