Meta Smart Glasses App Had Hidden Face Recognition Code All Along

Meta’s smart glasses companion app contains hidden facial recognition code, according to a new report. The feature, called 'NameTag,' was found in multiple app updates since January 2026 and could use the glasses’ camera—such as those in the Ray-Ban Meta lineup—to detect faces, create biometric identifiers, and compare them with a local database on users’ phones. The app, which has been installed over 50 million times, could notify wearers if a match is found, though the feature remains inactive. Researchers analyzing the code identified three AI models linked to face detection and processing, as well as a potential user-facing tool to help individuals recognize people they’ve met. Testing reportedly generated a sample alert using a face template based on philosopher Michel Foucault. Privacy advocates have raised concerns, given Meta’s history of facial recognition controversies, including a $650 million settlement in Illinois and a $1.4 billion settlement in Texas after shutting down Facebook’s facial recognition system in 2021. Meta spokesperson Ryan Daniels clarified that the code reflects internal experimentation and does not indicate plans to launch the feature. The company emphasized it has not built a centralized facial recognition database and would act carefully if introducing such technology, ensuring transparency with users. The discovery reignites debates over wearable AI, with supporters highlighting convenience and critics warning of surveillance risks. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses require the companion app for functionality, meaning millions of users may unknowingly have the code installed. While Meta insists no final decisions have been made, the finding adds to growing scrutiny over how tech companies handle biometric data in consumer devices. The report underscores ongoing tensions between innovation and privacy protections in the digital age.