Meta and Facial Recognition: A Hidden Code Reignites the Debate

A Hidden Code That Intrigues

Wired recently uncovered a hidden code within Meta's artificial intelligence application, which refers to an undisclosed facial recognition feature. This discovery fuels a persistent rumor that Meta is considering integrating this technology into its smart glasses, a possibility already mentioned by the New York Times in February.

A Look Back at Meta's Background

Meta is not new to facial recognition attempts. The company had previously experimented with this technology on Facebook before abandoning it in 2021 due to privacy concerns. However, it reintroduced facial recognition in 2024 on Instagram and Facebook to combat advertising fraud.

The "NameTag" Project in Question

The code discovered by Wired mentions a function called "NameTag," which would allow smart glasses to recognize faces and inform the user when a registered person is identified. According to a security researcher who analyzed the code, this feature is not yet active and does not transmit any biometric data to Meta's servers.

Interface elements, such as a "Connections" menu encouraging users to "remember people met," have reportedly appeared in earlier versions of the application. The New York Times reports that internal sources at Meta have also referred to this project by the same name, suggesting a potential launch in a politically sensitive context in the United States, where public criticism of recognition technology might be less severe.

Meta's Official Position

Ryan Daniels, a representative of Meta, emphasized that these elements are merely exploratory and that no public version is currently in development. He also highlighted that no final decision has been made and that no centralized database of faces is being prepared. While the code is enough to reignite the debate, there is no confirmation that "NameTag" will be featured in future Ray-Ban or Oakley glasses.