Hans Anders halts Meta Ray‑Ban smart glasses sales in NL and Belgium over privacy worries

Hans Anders, one of the Netherlands' biggest eyewear chains, has stopped selling Meta’s Ray‑Ban smart glasses in the Netherlands and Belgium because of privacy concerns. The decision follows a public and political debate about how the camera‑equipped glasses can be used, a spokesperson for the chain said. The move mirrors a wider backlash against smart glasses that can record video without obvious notice.

Reaction

In the UK, pub chain Wetherspoon has already restricted the glasses over fears of covert recording. Meta and lens maker Luxottica are facing a US lawsuit alleging that video clips captured by the glasses were reviewed by human annotators without the subjects’ knowledge. A Meta spokesperson said each pair has a bright front light that blinks when a photo or video is taken, cannot be switched off, and the camera disables if covered or tampered with. Dutch privacy regulator AP warned last month that videos showing identifiable people generally cannot be shared without consent, which is hard to obtain in public places. Consumer group Consumentenbond said it will take Meta to court unless the glasses are changed to meet privacy law. Offlimits, an online‑abuse watchdog, urged Meta and Ray‑Ban owner EssilorLuxottica to voluntarily pull the product until a way to stop hidden recordings is found. EssilorLuxottica did not comment.

Context

Smart glasses with built‑in cameras have sparked privacy debates worldwide, prompting regulators and consumer groups to demand clearer consent rules. Companies face pressure to add visible recording indicators or limit the technology’s use in public settings.