Meta bricked the cameras on thousands of its AI glasses

Meta Platforms has initiated an aggressive privacy enforcement crackdown by remotely disabling camera functionality on thousands of its smart glasses after detecting user tampering with recording indicator lights. The company rolled out a software update designed to close loopholes where users covered or drilled out the external LED lights to surreptitiously record video in public. Devices with permanently damaged or drilled LEDs will have their camera capabilities disabled permanently, while devices obstructed by stickers will regain functionality once the covering is removed. According to Meta, the enforcement action impacts less than one-tenth of a percent of all Meta AI glasses sold. With roughly 7 million units sold in 2025 alone, the policy affects an estimated 7,000 devices or more. Alongside the software update, Meta has launched a broad public relations campaign, including billboards and executive statements, to defend the hardware's privacy standards. From a market standpoint, the proactive measure addresses mounting regulatory and public relations scrutiny over wearable surveillance and bystander privacy. While disabling hardware on offending devices could trigger localized consumer dissatisfaction, Meta's decisive stance is likely to preserve consumer trust and protect the expanding hardware division from potential regulatory interventions.