Three Ray-Ban Glasses Recorded Audio Without Consent, Report Says

Some Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses recorded conversations without wearers speaking the "Hey Meta" wake phrase, a bug the company says has since been fixed, according to Ars Technica.

What did the affected user report?

A Reddit user posting as Kindly-Audience-137 said the behavior turned up on three separate pairs of the glasses even though the "Respond without Hey Meta" setting was switched off, Ars Technica reported. The user said the companion app "saves audio recordings and text transcripts of these conversations" in a persistent history, and wrote that the pattern "deserves a serious technical investigation," arguing that wearers "should not have to wonder whether their private conversations are being captured."

How many devices were affected?

The scope is unclear. The company has not disclosed how many units experienced the issue or confirmed what triggered it, Ars Technica reported. The Reddit user said the problem began after a recent firmware update, though that connection has not been verified. Android Authority first surfaced the discussions on Tuesday and told readers it could not reproduce the glitch before a fix arrived, per Ars Technica's account of that reporting.

Did the recording indicator still light up?

Ray-Ban smart glasses are designed to show a light whenever audio or video capture starts, a feature the manufacturer has pointed to as reassurance against covert recording given the device's inconspicuous frame. Ars Technica reported that the bug occurred even with that indicator active, meaning the visual cue did not stop unintended capture from happening in the background.

What has the company said about a fix?

A statement provided to Android Authority and relayed by Ars Technica read: "This issue has been resolved. People can manage, review, and delete voice logs of their interactions with Meta AI via settings at any time." The statement did not explain the root cause, confirm a device count, or describe safeguards against a repeat occurrence. Ars Technica said it had asked for those details directly and would update its report if it received a response.

Why does this matter beyond one bug?

Privacy researchers had already raised concerns about camera-and-microphone glasses before this incident, warning that a discreet design makes it easier to record someone without their knowledge, Ars Technica reported. A single confirmed glitch does not establish how often it occurred, but it adds weight to those earlier warnings about wearables that listen passively. Owners can check what was captured by reviewing voice logs and conversation history in the companion app's settings and deleting entries they do not want retained, according to the Ars Technica report.

The episode also lands as the company expands its AI lineup beyond hardware, including a related report on upcoming AI subscription plans tied to the same assistant software. Broader consumer demand for voice-driven AI tools — from wearables to keyboard apps such as mindfulAI Keyboard — is part of why always-on microphones continue to draw outside scrutiny.

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