Wired uncovers dormant facial recognition code in Meta AI app
Code for an unreleased smart glasses function has been identified in Meta’s software, raising fresh privacy questions despite the system being currently inactive.
A report by Wired has identified code for an unreleased facial recognition feature, labelled "NameTag", within Meta's AI application. The function is designed for Meta smart glasses and would capture faces, notifying users upon recognition of previously captured individuals. Although the code is currently inactive, not accessible to customers, and not transmitting biometric data to Meta's servers, its discovery adds to ongoing scrutiny of the company's biometric ambitions.
The feature, referred to as "NameTag" in the code, would allow smart glasses to capture people's faces and later notify the wearer when it recognises a previously captured face. Past versions of the Meta AI app included interface elements for the feature, such as a "Connections" menu prompting users to "remember the people you met". Anonymous Meta sources previously referred to the facial recognition tool as "Name Tag" in reports by The New York Times.
Internal memos reviewed during reporting indicate Meta considered launching the feature during a "dynamic political environment" in the US. The company believed civil society groups would be focused on other concerns, minimising scrutiny of the launch. This strategic consideration highlights the potential sensitivity surrounding the deployment of such technology.
Meta previously explored facial recognition for its smart glasses, as first reported by The New York Times in February. The company retired facial recognition for photo tagging on Facebook in 2021 due to privacy concerns. In 2024, Meta reintroduced facial recognition on Instagram and Facebook, framing it as a safety tool to detect faces used in scam advertisements.
While there are potential accessibility benefits, including identifying faces for users with visual impairments, the feature poses serious ethical concerns. It remains unclear if "NameTag" will be part of any future release of Meta's Ray-Ban or Oakley smart glasses. Engadget has contacted Meta for comment regarding the code and whether the company's stance on facial recognition in smart glasses has changed.
