A new application named Zuckoff has emerged, capable of detecting the presence of Meta's AI-powered smart glasses, which have faced criticism for their potential to record individuals without consent. The app, which identifies Bluetooth signals broadcast by the glasses, has garnered approximately 5,000 users since its release on the Apple App Store last month.
Pawel Szydlowski, the programmer behind Zuckoff, stated that concerns over incidents involving harassment and non-consensual recording prompted him to develop the application. He believes society has a right to know when it is being recorded.
Functionality and Features
The Zuckoff app displays the estimated proximity of nearby smart glasses. A premium version, Zuckoff Pro, offers notifications even when the app is not actively running.
Szydlowski developed the app by analyzing the Bluetooth signals emitted by various smart glass models. This allowed him to identify unique Bluetooth identifiers and manufacturer details, such as "Meta" or "Ray Bans," that indicate the glasses are in use.
Meta's Response to Criticism
Meta has been actively addressing mounting criticism regarding its smart glasses, widely referred to as "perv glasses." Privacy advocates have expressed strong disapproval, and some venues, including the New York nightclub Basement, have implemented bans on the devices.
Meta has launched public relations efforts to emphasize that the glasses are not intended for covert recording. Andrew Bosworth, Meta's Chief Technology Officer, stated in a recent video that the camera is designed to be noticeable to those nearby.
Earlier this month, Meta deactivated thousands of glasses that had been modified to disable an indicator light signifying recording. In July, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri announced that accounts using the glasses to post videos of harassment were being removed from the platform.
Despite Meta's efforts, videos allegedly captured with the AI glasses, featuring individuals being recorded without their knowledge or consent, continue to appear on social media. These often include instances of users being doxxed in comment sections.
Meta released its video-recording-capable smart glasses last fall, drawing swift criticism and being labeled "dystopian" by some observers.