Dutch Eyewear Chain Hans Anders Stops Selling Meta’s Ray-Ban Glasses
Hans Anders, one of the largest Dutch eyewear chains, has stopped selling Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses in the Netherlands and Belgium. The chain cited privacy concerns as the reason for the move, stating:
"This decision follows the ongoing public and political debate surrounding smart glasses and the questions being raised about the conditions under which this technology can be used," a Hans Anders spokesperson told Reuters.
Private equity firm KKR owns Nexeye, the parent company of Hans Anders, which operates 776 stores across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Sweden. They are currently pausing sales of the glasses in these regions while waiting for the debate to conclude.
The Dutch backlash stems from reports of strangers filming people, especially women, in public without their knowledge. The Dutch data protection authority (AP) has also warned smart glass users about privacy concerns and is considering further measures against camera glasses. Consumer groups plan legal action unless Meta complies with privacy laws.
Meta, however, maintains that their glasses have safety features to prevent unauthorized recording, including a bright light that blinks when recording and cannot be turned off by the user. The company has also released an LED update to stop recording if someone covers the light.
While the Dutch government is not rushing to ban the glasses, the state secretary for justice has requested a report from the European Data Protection Board later this year. Norway has proposed a temporary ban on AI glasses in certain public places, and Paris prosecutors have opened a criminal probe into their use to film women.