Meta to let users opt out of AI training on smart glasses 'visual data'
Meta says users will be able to opt out of having images captured through camera-based Meta AI interactions on its smart glasses used for AI training. The move follows privacy criticism and a proposed class-action lawsuit.
Meta has announced a new privacy setting for users of its AI-powered smart glasses, allowing them to opt out of having their "visual data" used to train the company's AI models. Previously, images and video captured while interacting with Meta AI through the glasses' cameras could be stored, used for training, and reviewed by third-party contractors in other countries.
Under the new setting, users who opt out will no longer have their visual data used for training or reviewed for product improvement. Meta explained that, for example, if a user asks the glasses to translate a menu, the captured image will only be used to answer that request and will then be discarded.
Confusion around data collection
Meta has long maintained that photos and videos captured through the glasses' cameras in normal use are not shared or used for training. However, any interaction with Meta AI that relies on the camera — such as asking what a sign means — resulted in those images being stored, even though they were not saved to the user's camera roll. As a result, many users were likely unaware such captures were being retained and used further.
Some of these images were sent to third-party contractors in other countries, who reviewed and labeled them for AI training purposes. A report published earlier this year found that some contractors had encountered highly personal and intimate images while performing this work.
Notably, the new opt-out only covers visual data. Audio interactions with Meta AI can still be used for training and review, though users are able to manually delete those recordings.
The change comes as Meta faces ongoing privacy criticism, including at least one proposed class-action lawsuit. The company also recently unveiled a new line of Ray-Ban-branded glasses that do not include cameras at all.
