Texas Attorney General Investigates Meta AI Smart Glasses Privacy

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a consumer protection investigation into Meta Platforms Incorporated's AI smart glasses, including Ray-Ban Meta models, on May 21, 2026. The probe focuses on the devices' always-enabled hardware, which regulators claim allows for the continuous harvesting of audio-visual data and facial traits of unsuspecting users without their consent.

Paxton issued a Civil Investigative Demand to determine if the hardware contradicts Meta's privacy claims. Investigators specifically identified safety flaws in the recording LED indicator, noting the light can be easily obstructed or remains dark during background processing. The investigation also examines reports that employees at Sama, a data-tagging subcontractor in Kenya, accessed raw, unblurred consumer footage, including recordings of private bathroom visits.

Further concerns center on an internal Meta project codenamed Name Tag, which aims to deploy facial recognition to map the geometry of bystanders. This investigation follows a July 2024 settlement in which Meta paid Texas 1.4 billion dollars over illegal biometric data extraction. The launch of the probe coincided with Meta announcing layoffs of 8,000 employees due to AI.