On one hand - if the demos are representative, this looks like a very cool product right out of science fiction.
On the other hand, Meta is one of the very last companies that I would trust to operate a fleet of network connected always-on cameras attached to everyone's faces. The privacy implications are pretty horrifying. Imagine if Meta decided to run facial recognition on-device and upload the results to their advertising services. Your position could be easily tracked any time you walk into the field of view of someone wearing Meta glasses without your consent.
Not to mention for users that choose to use these things voluntarily, you are giving Meta an intimate look into every waking moment of your life. You think data brokers have too much on you now, just wait.
EDIT: Looks like most innocuous comments expressing privacy concerns on this post are getting flagged. That's not how HN is supposed to work, folks.
Especially after the whole Occulus Facebook account fiasco. The technology looks great but I have zero interest in owning a Facebook product because they can't be trusted, full stop.
I can't even load the announcement page because I have all netblocks and domains of FB, Instagram, Meta, WhatsApp, Oculus, et c all blocked at my router.
The very concept of an ad company trying to mediate all social interactions so they can sell communication and interaction with our friends and business associates back to us is such a toxic and antisocial one that I'm surprised that anyone let it happen in the first place.
Facebook delenda est.
Normalize banning anyone who wears such an ad company surveillance apparatus into your home or business.
Oh, I am sure they'll try. The sales pitch is way too enticing for them to ignore. Imagine you're in a brick and mortar wireless store shopping for a new cell plan. A Meta user walks by, and you get caught in a frame. A facial recognition scan quickly links you to your shadow profile, and an image recognition model identifies that you are phone shopping. Meta knows who you are and pings your current carrier who quickly dispatches a phone call to you with a pre-emptive retention offer. It may sound outlandish, but all the pieces are there to do this today.
IMHO, we need strong regulation of facial recognition technology. The conversation too often focuses on law enforcement use - don't get me wrong, that is also important, but it completely ignores the risk posed by private databases.
On the other hand, Meta is one of the very last companies that I would trust to operate a fleet of network connected always-on cameras attached to everyone's faces. The privacy implications are pretty horrifying. Imagine if Meta decided to run facial recognition on-device and upload the results to their advertising services. Your position could be easily tracked any time you walk into the field of view of someone wearing Meta glasses without your consent.
Not to mention for users that choose to use these things voluntarily, you are giving Meta an intimate look into every waking moment of your life. You think data brokers have too much on you now, just wait.
EDIT: Looks like most innocuous comments expressing privacy concerns on this post are getting flagged. That's not how HN is supposed to work, folks.