France probes Meta over misuse of smart glasses in harassment cases

Paris prosecutors launched a criminal investigation on September 18, 2026, targeting suspected sexual harassment linked to smart glasses. The inquiry centers on a disturbing social media trend where users film women in public without their knowledge or consent, then post the footage online. The case puts Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses squarely in the crosshairs of French law enforcement, at a moment when the product is arguably the hottest piece of consumer tech in Europe. What triggered the probe The French data protection authority, CNIL, has received fewer than ten workplace-related complaints involving smart glasses. CNIL also reported a noticeable rise in businesses approaching the agency for guidance on whether they can ban the devices outright on their premises. Rights organization e-Enfance identified a pattern that made regulators particularly uncomfortable: users actively obstructing the LED recording indicators built into the glasses. Meta designed those lights to signal when the camera is active. Some users have been covering or disabling them specifically to film people without triggering suspicion, primarily sharing footage on TikTok. French law already sets meaningful ...