Meta: Private Images of AI Glasses Sent to Kenya

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Key Takeaways

1A survey reveals that Meta's AI glasses are sending sensitive images to reviewers in Kenya.

2A class action lawsuit accuses Meta of deception regarding the privacy protection of its smart glasses.

3Contractors in Kenya are viewing intimate content, despite Meta's promises of confidentiality.

💡Why it matters — This case raises critical questions about data privacy and transparency among tech giants.

Meta and AI Glasses Privacy: Sensitive Images Reviewed in Kenya

An investigation by Swedish media outlets Svenska Dagbladet and Göteborgs-Posten has revealed that Meta's smart glasses, equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities, may transmit sensitive images to human reviewers based in Nairobi, Kenya. According to the recently published report, Meta's contractors in Kenya have viewed videos captured by these glasses, including intimate moments such as trips to the bathroom and sexual encounters.

In response to these revelations, a class-action lawsuit has been proposed, accusing Meta of violating laws on false advertising and privacy protection. The lawsuit highlights that Meta claimed its smart glasses were designed to protect users' privacy. However, it is now alleged that these devices allow strangers, located thousands of miles away, to access very personal moments in users' lives.

Annotation Practices at the Heart of the Controversy

Contractors based in Nairobi, interviewed by Svenska Dagbladet, work as AI annotators. Their role involves labeling images, texts, or audio files to help AI systems better understand training data. One worker stated, "We see everything—from living rooms to naked bodies. Meta has this type of content in its databases."

A former Meta employee told Svenska Dagbladet that faces in the annotation data are supposed to be automatically blurred. However, workers in Kenya reported that this process does not always function as intended, sometimes leaving faces visible. Additionally, it was mentioned that sensitive information, such as bank cards, occasionally appears in the videos being reviewed.

Meta's Smart Glasses and Their Implications

Meta's Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses are equipped with a built-in AI assistant capable of answering questions about what the user sees. Despite their growing popularity, these glasses raise increasing concerns regarding privacy and surveillance.

In partnership with EssilorLuxottica, Meta sold over 7 million AI-powered glasses in 2025, a figure that far exceeds the combined sales of 2023 and 2024. The previous year, Meta altered its privacy policy, stating that the use of AI with the camera activated remains active unless the user disables the 'Hey Meta' feature. Furthermore, the company has stopped allowing users to opt-out of storing their voice recordings in the cloud.

Reactions and Measures from Meta

According to Svenska Dagbladet, the AI reviewers in Kenya also work with transcriptions to ensure that Meta's AI responds correctly to user inquiries. In a statement to The Verge, Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton asserted that media captured by the smart glasses "remains on the user's device" unless they choose to share it with others or with Meta.

Clayton added, "When people share content with Meta AI, we sometimes use contractors to review this data to improve user experience, as many other companies do. We take steps to filter this data to protect individuals' privacy and help prevent the review of identifiable information."

Investigation and Concerns Over Facial Recognition

The UK Information Commissioner's Office has questioned Meta regarding the allegations reported by Svenska Dagbladet. Privacy advocates have expressed concerns about Meta's intentions to develop facial recognition in its smart glasses. The Electronic Privacy Information Center has described this technology as a "serious risk to privacy, security, and civil liberties."