Markey presses Meta on facial recognition risks in smart glasses

Senator Ed Markey has raised concerns about the potential dangers of smart glasses equipped with facial recognition technology, warning they could be used to identify protesters and discourage public dissent.

On March 17th letter To Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Markey, joined by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, demanded answers about the company’s reported plans to integrate facial recognition into its smart glasses.

“Although facial recognition may offer real benefits to blind and visually impaired users, Meta’s history of failing to protect user privacy raises serious questions about its plan to deploy this technology in its smart glasses,” Markey said in a statement. statement.

The lawmakers’ letter comes on the heels of reports that Meta is exploring adding facial recognition capabilities to future versions of its wearable devices.

In the letter, the senators warned that such technology could identify, track and monitor people in real time without their knowledge or consent. They confirmed that the glasses could be used to identify people at political rallies.

“The widespread use of this technology could restrict freedom of expression and enable harassment,” they wrote.

Senators gave Meta until April 6 to answer questions about how the company collects, stores and protects sensitive biometric data, and whether users — or those being screened — will have any ability to opt out.

“Without strong safeguards, this technology could be used to target vulnerable communities and undermine Americans’ privacy and civil liberties,” the senators wrote.

Meta has not publicly announced whether it plans to introduce facial recognition technology into its smart glasses.

The message comes a day before nationwide protests scheduled for March 28. Dozens of “No Kings” rallies are scheduled in cities and towns across Massachusetts, including Boston. An estimated tens of thousands of people participated in the city’s last protest under the slogan “No to Kings” in October.

Morgan Russo is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.