Meta admits glitch that let Ray‑Ban smart glasses record audio without saying "Hey, Meta"

Meta confirmed that a software bug in its Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses caused the units to capture nearby speech even when users never said the wake‑up phrase, "Hey, Meta." The company says the defect has been fixed with a firmware update released this week.

The flaw operated covertly, writing audio snippets to the glasses without any visual or audible cue for the wearer. Users noticed recordings appearing despite the missing activation phrase, raising concerns that the device was listening at all times.

The problem first surfaced publicly after several owners shared screenshots and descriptions of the unexpected recordings on social media earlier this week. Tech news sites quickly reported the story, pointing out that the product is promoted as a stylish wearable rather than an obvious surveillance gadget.

Meta traced the issue to a recent firmware rollout that unintentionally changed the voice‑activation logic. In a statement, the firm said engineers pinpointed the bug, issued a corrective update, and urged every owner to install it promptly.

Privacy advocates have long cautioned that always‑on wearables could be turned into covert monitoring tools. This incident revives those warnings, underscoring the clash between cutting‑edge hardware and the need for strong safeguards against accidental data capture.

The Ray‑Ban Meta glasses, a joint effort between the famed eyewear label and Meta, are marketed as an entry‑level augmented‑reality device capable of taking photos, streaming audio, and showing notifications, with voice commands as the main control method.

Meta stressed that, so far, there is no proof that any of the inadvertently captured audio was sent to its servers. Nonetheless, the company has launched an internal probe to see whether any data might have been uploaded before the bug was fixed.

Users are advised to apply the firmware update via the companion app, erase any stored audio files, and reach out to Meta support for help. The company also offered extra guidance for those who feel their privacy has been breached.

Analysts observe that the episode comes at a time of growing regulatory scrutiny of wearable tech. As smart glasses become more popular, lawmakers and privacy regulators are likely to examine whether current consumer‑protection rules adequately cover the unique risks of devices that merge everyday fashion with always‑on sensors.