A $2 Sticker Defeats Meta’s ‘Pervert Glasses’ Solution
Meta’s answer to its “pervert glasses” problem is a light that switches on when the camera records. Weeks after it banned harassment filmed on the glasses, a thriving market of dollar-store stickers is switching that light off, and an investigation found hundreds of harassment videos still live. Awkwardly for Meta, none of it is denting sales.
The Issue at Hand
Meta’s solution: a small light that switches on when the camera records to warn anyone nearby. A sticker costing just $2 switches it off. Engadget’s Karissa Bell tested workarounds now on sale—cheap LED-blocking stickers marketed as “privacy” accessories. One kit cost $16.99 for a dozen. On her second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses, worn outside, the recording light was undetectable. It never tripped Meta’s tamper warning.
The Clever (and Ugly) Loophole
That is the clever, ugly part. Meta pushed a mandatory update that disables the camera if the LED is physically broken. The stickers do not break it; they leak just enough light to fool the sensor, making it hard to trace who is hiding the light.
A Failing Ban and Wider Concerns
The ban on filming harassment with the glasses was already failing. An Oligarch Watch investigation, surfaced by Futurism, still found hundreds of such videos live on Meta’s platforms. Many come from “pickup artists” who accost women in public and rate their bodies on camera. Some flagged accounts came down after the report, a drop in the ocean. Instagram boss Adam Mosseri had promised to crack down "every way we can."
Meta now says it is exploring ways to detect tampering, will pull listings that sell the stickers, and will ban repeat offenders.
Broader Privacy Concerns
The recording light is not the only worry. Meta’s glasses have exposed the people wearing them. Contractors reportedly reviewed intimate footage captured by the devices, and Meta uses some clips to train its AI. Its facial-recognition plans have alarmed US lawmakers and privacy groups. Rivals face the same bind. Apple has reportedly agonized over whether to fit a camera at all, wary of the creepy label.
Sales Booming Despite Backlash
None of it is denting sales because the glasses are selling. Revenue from smart glasses nearly doubled year on year in the second quarter, according to Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica, first reported by Gizmodo. Meta shifted roughly 7 million pairs in 2025.
A Punchline: Privacy Sunglasses
The pushback does have a punchline. DuckDuckGo has released $35 sunglasses with no camera, microphone, or AI, billed as “anti-surveillance eyewear.” They join a small run of camera-free glasses. For now, the glasses that record and the glasses that refuse to are both booming.
By Ana Maria Constantin (show all)