A German digital rights group has filed a criminal complaint against Meta and its Ray-Ban smart glasses, citing privacy violations and covert surveillance capabilities.

A German non-profit organization has taken legal action against Meta and several optical retailers over the sale of Ray-Ban smart glasses, alleging they infringe on privacy rights. The glasses, which appear indistinguishable from regular eyewear, are equipped with a discreet camera capable of recording and sharing footage directly to social media platforms.

The group, HateAid, has called for a ban on the glasses, arguing that their covert filming and audio recording capabilities violate Germany’s Telecommunications Digital Services Data Protection Act. The organization also criticized Meta for using the glasses to collect user-generated videos to enhance its artificial intelligence systems, describing the product as a tool to strengthen the company’s dominance in the data market.

The controversy surrounding the glasses has extended beyond Germany. Courts in England and Wales recently prohibited their use, joining a growing list of venues such as restaurants, theaters, and pubs in the UK that have banned the devices. The legal and public backlash highlights escalating concerns over the balance between technological innovation and individual privacy.