German rights group files criminal complaint over Meta's AI smart glasses

Regulation
โดย Reuters·DE·Read original
Summary · why it matters

German non-profit HateAid filed a criminal complaint on the 12th against Meta Platforms' management and companies selling its AI-powered smart glasses, alleging the devices violate personal data protection law. HateAid claims the glasses breach a German data protection law that bans the sale of communication equipment designed to record people without their knowledge. The complaint, lodged with ZIT, the specialist public prosecutor's office for internet and cybercrime, names Meta's management as well as the Ray-Ban division of eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica, major eyewear retailers Fielmann, Apollo Optik, and Mister Spex. HateAid points to a confirmed rise in digital violence using images, with women as the main victims, and argues that smart glasses make it possible to conceal hard-to-detect surveillance technology in everyday objects. ZIT confirmed it has accepted the complaint and said it will conduct a preliminary review under standard procedures to determine whether there are grounds for a fuller investigation. Meanwhile, Germany's Federal Network Agency told Reuters on the 12th that while it is closely monitoring the smart glasses market, it has not yet opened a formal investigation into any legal violations. It added that owning, importing, and selling smart glasses is not itself prohibited, and that recording functions are acceptable as long as they are clearly indicated, for example through a visible light.

Impact on stocks 2

Spatial Computing / AR/VR▼ · 2 stocks
Meta Platforms Inc.
META
▼ NegativeRegulationrelevance

Criminal complaint alleges Meta's smart glasses violate German data protection law.

EssilorLuxottica S. A.
EL
▼ NegativeRegulationrelevance

Ray-Ban division named in complaint over smart glasses data protection violations.

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