Meta executives clash over existence of NameTag face recognition system
While the company maintains the feature is not available to consumers, technical analysis confirms the presence of functional face-recognition code in the Meta AI app since early 2025.
Meta executives have issued contradictory statements regarding the existence of NameTag, a face recognition system designed for its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. The confusion emerged after WIRED reported that inactive code for the system had been deployed to millions of devices via the Meta AI companion app. Vice President of Communications Andy Stone asserted that the feature "does not exist," while Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth subsequently detailed its functionality on a podcast, describing how it would help users identify people they have previously met.
WIRED’s analysis confirmed that code for NameTag was present in the Meta AI app as early as January 2025, with core components confirmed by May. Although the code was inactive for general users, an independent researcher successfully used the system to recognise a photograph of philosopher Michel Foucault at WIRED’s request. Meta removed the NameTag code from the app on June 5, the day after the initial report was published on June 4.
The divergence in executive messaging has drawn sharp criticism from the reporting outlet. Stone described the initial report as "intellectually dishonest" and "shoddy reporting," while Bosworth labelled it "incredibly misleading." When asked to clarify what was misleading about the reporting, Meta declined to answer. Spokesperson Ryan Daniels responded to the contradiction by highlighting the conditional nature of Bosworth’s statement, noting that the CTO said the feature "would be" a good feature, not that it currently exists.
Meta maintains that the system is not available to consumers and does not rely on a central database. Bosworth emphasised during his podcast appearance that the technology would not query a central server, a distinction the company argues is critical for compliance with state biometric privacy laws. Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) and Texas’ Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act (CUBI) impose strict requirements on the deployment of face recognition technology, including explicit consent for capturing biometric data.
The legal landscape for on-device biometric data remains complex. While some courts have ruled that data stored solely on user devices is not "possessed" by the company, others have allowed class action lawsuits to proceed, focusing on who controls the data and whether users can disable the feature. Meta declined to answer questions regarding why it licensed third-party face-recognition software, when the arrangement began, or whether it continues, leaving the precise mechanics of the system’s compliance under scrutiny.
