Ray-Ban Meta glasses have been recording audio and saving transcripts without anyone saying the wake phrase.
On Reddit, one user reported finding voice recordings and transcripts on three separate pairs of Ray-Ban Meta glasses, including second- and third-generation models, that were never triggered by a "hey Meta" command or a button press. Other owners chimed in with the same complaint. Meta told Android Authority the issue "has been resolved" but did not explain what caused it. The company's privacy notice already acknowledges that voice services can be "inadvertently" activated, and that some recordings may be reviewed by Meta staff to improve its voice services.
Smart glasses only work if people trust the microphone stays off until they ask for it. A silent failure of that promise, even a brief one, undercuts the pitch for face-worn AI hardware, especially with Meta already facing scrutiny over how much data its wearables collect. Users can delete the recordings after the fact, but they can't stop them from happening, which is backwards for a privacy control.
The workaround, for now, is switching off voice activation entirely, which rather defeats the purpose of buying glasses that are supposed to listen for you.