Meta Faces UK ICO’s Scrutiny After Reports Of Smart Glasses Content Review

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is seeking information from Meta regarding outsourced workers reviewing videos captured by its AI smart glasses. Swedish newspapers reported that a Kenya-based subcontractor, Sama, sometimes viewed sensitive footage, including users in private spaces.

Meta stated that subcontracted workers review content to improve the user experience and that filtering processes, such as blurring faces, are applied. The company said users activate recording manually or by voice, and that the AI terms of service specify that reviews may be automated or manual. The ICO said service providers must clearly explain what data is collected and how it is used. It added that devices processing personal data should give users control and transparency. Meta’s glasses, developed with Ray-Ban, include a recording light and guidance against misuse in private spaces.

Sama provided annotation services for AI image and transcript labelling, but has since ended content moderation work.