Germany Calls for Ban on Meta Glasses
As new EU rules on mandatory labeling of AI-generated content took effect on Monday, calls are growing in Germany for a complete ban on Meta's smart glasses due to serious threats to citizens' privacy.
As new EU rules on mandatory labeling of AI-generated content took effect on Monday, calls are growing in Germany for a complete ban on Meta's smart glasses due to serious threats to citizens' privacy.
Simultaneously with the implementation of new European regulations on AI content transparency, a heated debate has erupted in Germany over the safety of so-called smart glasses. Digital rights organizations and regulatory bodies are increasingly demanding a ban on devices like Meta Glasses, warning that they pose a serious threat to privacy, especially for women and children.
Germany's digital rights organization HateAid has reported that complaints have already been filed with the police in Potsdam by young women who were filmed by unknown men using Meta glasses at a public pool. The problem, as they point out, is that it is nearly impossible to notice when someone is recording you with this device, unlike with a smartphone.
Although in Germany, a country known for its high level of privacy protection, photographing and recording strangers without their consent is illegal, HateAid warns that the burden of proof often falls on the victim. "This technology encourages digital violence because perpetrators now need almost no technical knowledge," HateAid stated.
Thomas Fuchs, the privacy and digital regulation officer for the city of Hamburg, told public broadcaster ARD that he believes a complete ban on smart glasses is possible. Meta's main German offices are located in this northern city.
Fuchs's office tested the controversial glasses and found that the LED light, which is supposed to alert passersby that the wearer is recording, is far too weak to be visible in normal daylight. He added that he is already in talks with colleagues in Ireland, where Meta has its European headquarters, about shaping policy at the European Union level.
The debate in Germany comes on the day that, on August 3, 2026, new European Union rules came into force mandating the labeling of AI-generated content. The regulations apply to chatbots, deepfakes, and certain publications created with the help of AI, with draconian penalties for violations.
According to data from the Anadolu agency, the maximum fine for non-compliance with these provisions reaches $17.3 million or three percent of a company's global annual turnover, which represents significant financial pressure on tech giants to align their products with European transparency standards.
Although the topic has no direct connection to Croatia, the new EU rules on AI content directly affect Croatian users and companies, while the debate on the limits of wearable technology raises questions that will inevitably move to the domestic market as well.
