Instagram is taking action against creators who use Meta smart glasses to secretly record and harass people in public.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced the policy update on the platform, stating that videos exploiting strangers will face removal.
The crackdown targets a growing genre of disruptive content. Common examples include pranksters tormenting retail workers or self-proclaimed pick-up artists approaching unsuspecting women on the street. Even when these encounters end amicably, the subjects often remain unaware they are being recorded.
Business Insider reported that Instagram deactivated at least two accounts associated with pick-up artists, both of which boasted more than a million followers. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the suspensions resulted from violations of the new policy.
Meta tweaks hardware
Meta has also implemented hardware changes to address privacy concerns. The glasses feature a white indicator light that some users previously covered with tape. A recent software update disables the camera entirely if it detects physical tampering or destruction of this capture LED. The company even pledged to ban accounts and remove listings for services that offer to disable the safeguard.
Despite these technical defences, the tiny indicator remains easy to miss in bright daylight. Privacy researchers argue the LED blinks too briefly during photo capture for bystanders to notice and react before the image is saved.
Regulatory scrutiny mounts
The stringent enforcement arrives as the devices face escalating international pressure. European lawmakers recently urged the European Commission to clarify how existing data protection rules apply to wearable recording devices following widespread reports of covert public filming.
Furthermore, a new class-action lawsuit filed in the United States accuses Meta of misleading consumers about privacy protections. The complaint alleges that overseas contractors review sensitive footage captured by the glasses to improve artificial intelligence systems.
With more than seven million pairs sold last year, the devices are gaining massive traction. However, the growing tendency for social media users to label the wearables «pervert glasses» has prompted Meta to aggressively distance its product from predatory behaviour.
