Hans Anders Halts Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Sales Over Privacy Concerns

Dutch eyewear chain Hans Anders has suspended sales of Meta Platforms' Ray-Ban smart glasses across the Netherlands and Belgium due to rising privacy concerns and covert recording debates. The move by the KKR-owned retailer follows warnings from the Dutch Data Protection Authority that distributing footage of identifiable individuals without consent breaches regulations. Dutch consumer advocacy group Consumentenbond has also threatened legal action against Meta unless safeguards are revised. Meta defended the hardware, highlighting mandatory recording indicator lights, but faces growing European commercial and regulatory pushback.