Meta Ray-Ban Footage Sent to Kenyan Workers Includes Users' Most Private Scenes
Meta Ray-Ban footage reviewed by Kenyan workers includes deeply private user moments.
A new report has raised significant privacy concerns surrounding the use of Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, revealing that technology workers in Nairobi are reviewing and annotating user-recorded footage as part of the process used to train artificial intelligence systems. The footage, captured through built-in cameras and microphones in the smart glasses, is reportedly being examined by data annotators who analyse and label clips to improve the performance of AI models developed by Meta Platforms.
According to investigations published by Swedish newspapers Göteborgs-Posten and Svenska Dagbladet, workers tasked with reviewing the content have encountered a wide range of personal and sensitive moments inadvertently recorded by users. The footage is reportedly processed by employees working for Sama, a contractor that provides data-labelling services used in training artificial intelligence systems across several industries.
Workers involved in the process said that some of the video clips include extremely private situations filmed by individuals wearing the smart glasses, such as people inside their homes or engaged in everyday personal activities. Data annotators claimed they are required to watch and categorise these recordings as part of their job, which involves tagging objects, actions, and contexts within each clip so that AI systems can better interpret real-world scenarios.
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Some workers also expressed discomfort with the nature of the footage they are required to review, stating that refusing to complete assigned tasks could put their employment at risk. According to accounts cited in the report, employees said they often feel compelled to continue analysing the videos despite ethical concerns, as questioning the process or refusing assignments could jeopardise their jobs within the company’s workflow.
The revelations have reignited debates over data privacy and user awareness in emerging wearable technologies. While Meta states that its smart glasses are designed with privacy safeguards, critics argue that many users may not fully understand how their recorded data could be processed or reviewed during the development and training of AI systems. Privacy advocates warn that even accidental recordings of sensitive situations could pose risks if such material is mishandled or leaked.
In its privacy policy, Meta acknowledges that user interactions with its AI systems may sometimes be reviewed either automatically or manually by humans to improve services. The glasses, developed in partnership with EssilorLuxottica, allow users to activate cameras and interact with AI assistants through voice commands. The product has grown rapidly in popularity, with Meta reporting that around seven million units were sold in 2025 following earlier sales of about two million devices between 2023 and 2024.
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