A technology once abandoned over privacy concerns may soon return in a new form. Meta Platforms is reportedly considering bringing back facial recognition capabilities, this time integrated into its Ray-Ban smart glasses, according to a report by a major international newspaper.
The feature, internally called “Name Tag,” is said to allow users wearing the glasses to look at someone and instantly identify them. The system could also pull up related information using Meta’s built-in AI assistant, based on details shared by 4 people familiar with the plans. However, the report notes that the company’s approach is still evolving and final decisions may change.
Internal discussions reportedly highlight concerns around “safety and privacy risks.” The company has explored the idea of a “soft launch” at a conference for the blind to demonstrate the tool’s accessibility benefits before a broader rollout.
Internal memos cited in the report suggest Meta is evaluating the timing of the launch carefully. One document from Reality Labs, the division working on hardware products including smart glasses, stated: “We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns.”
Meta previously shut down facial recognition in 2021 and deleted face-scan data of more than 1B people, saying it needed to find the “right balance” for a technology that had triggered legal challenges and public criticism. The growing commercial success of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses has reportedly renewed interest in revisiting the capability.
Privacy advocates have already raised concerns, noting that wearable devices are mobile and less noticeable than fixed cameras, potentially affecting the “practical anonymity” people expect in daily life.
Meta said it has not finalized any launch timeline and is moving cautiously. “We’re building products that help millions of people connect and enrich their lives. While we frequently hear about the interest in this type of feature — and some products already exist in the market — we’re still thinking through options and will take a thoughtful approach if and before we roll anything out,” the company said.
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