this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2026
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The creator of Nearby Glasses made the app after reading 404 Media's coverage of how people are using Meta's Ray-Bans smartglasses to film people without their knowledge or consent. “I consider it to be a tiny part of resistance against surveillance tech.”

more at: @feed@404media.co

https://tech.lgbt/@yjeanrenaud/116122129025921096

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[–] billbasher@lemmy.world 1 points 15 minutes ago

Following for the iOS port

[–] Quexotic@infosec.pub 1 points 1 hour ago

This is fantastic, but from what I understand they use randomized OUIs, so wouldn't they be undetectable or at least unreliable in detection?

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 11 points 6 hours ago

meta is all about surveillance cant expect anything less

[–] Nioxic@lemmy.dbzer0.com 126 points 16 hours ago (6 children)

Wasnt there a ton of outrage and such incl people not being allowed on planes, back when google glass was released?

Why is it all OK now?

[–] Honytawk@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

It still isn't OK.

It is just that the technology became so small, you can't differentiate with regular sunglasses anymore.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 2 points 20 minutes ago

I mean you kind of still can. Wire frame sunglasses are still too small to have recording hardware.

There's a window of attention for public discourse and there's fatigue. We, as a group, can only be upset about so much. It's a tried tactic to just try to distract us with some crazy shit, like Trump did with the alien files. If one crazy thing comes up in the news, other stuff will drop from our radar. And that's why people try shit again and again and again. Always in the hope that this time people are distracted by other stuff or are finally worn down enough.

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 80 points 14 hours ago

Same reason our governments suck ass. Something unpopular tries to get passed again, and again, and again, and again, and eventually people get desensitized and worn out from trying to fight against it. That or it hits on the right time when people are distracted by something else bigger or more important.

[–] matlag@sh.itjust.works 29 points 12 hours ago

Years of privacy violations going deeper and deeper under pretend of "progress" and "pRoTeCt the cHiLdReN". I am glad that people started rebelling against Flock, and some removed their Amazon cameras following the Superbowl's ads, but that's not even close to how much we should be mad at these mass surveillance actors.

[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 50 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

I remember Google Glass itself receiving a ton of outrage actually: People hated it and anyone wearing one was made fun of ("glassholes" was a popular insult at the time).

[–] Zorque@lemmy.world 42 points 16 hours ago

Many years of indoctrination. When Google glass was introduced, it was just 'a neat idea'. Now it's a product, and therefore it's clearly more trustworthy because someone is profiting from it. (/s)

[–] Ghostie@lemmy.zip 8 points 10 hours ago

Absolutely fantastic.

[–] SkyeStarfall@lemmy.blahaj.zone 79 points 16 hours ago (12 children)

You know what sucks?

In that AR glasses, in theory, are such an interesting technology with lots of potential, and certainly a piece of tech I would love to have and work with and on. Not to secretly record people, but to, well.. augment my field of view with whatever digital tools or displays I would like. It would be so useful

It's honestly kinda saddening to me that it most likely will get completely ruined by our current toxic relationship to technology. A step towards our ever increasing cyberdystopia, and not towards enchanting our limited lives

Obviously either way I don't trust Meta, but an open-hardware device running a FOSS AR system? It would be nice..

I still hold out hope that this somehow could be resolved, and I would love to contribute to open software for these devices. Maybe one day soon-ish I will. My expertise should be well applicable, after all

[–] LePoisson@lemmy.world 1 points 3 minutes ago

The truth is that we already are living in the surveillance state and people are just going to have to "get over" being recorded in public by anyone that walks by.

I don't like it either. But that's the reality we're entering into, where privacy isn't a right but a privilege and that privilege does not exist save for some very select (if any at this point) places like your home ... Maybe.

[–] Patrikvo@lemmy.zip 3 points 2 hours ago

but an open-hardware device running a FOSS AR system? Until these display my health, ammo and the direction to my next objective, I'll pass.

[–] MBech@feddit.dk 40 points 15 hours ago (5 children)

It would be incredibly useful in construction. Having a digital overlay telling you exactly where to put up the framing for a separating wall, or an overlay showing the correct distance between screws, or where wires and pipes are inside a wall? There are so incredibly many awesome possible uses for AR in construction.

[–] scala@lemmy.ml 5 points 11 hours ago

Or playing Pokémon GO

[–] GreenKnight23@lemmy.world 11 points 14 hours ago (3 children)

I always wanted to build an AR app for inside data centers. Imagine looking at a server and being able to open a terminal or desktop that you can immediately interact with on the floor. or have it display resource information like hardware utilization, temps, network throughput and configuration, etc.

it would make a difficult job just bit more manageable.

[–] Honytawk@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 hour ago

Pretty sure that already exists.

But it is mainly used for solving hardware problems where a technician can film whatever they are working on with their phone, and a remote technician can "draw" in AR on the image in real time to point towards the things that need manual interventions.

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[–] nednobbins@lemmy.zip 8 points 11 hours ago (6 children)

I dislike Facebook and deleted my account even before they changed to "Meta". I also value privacy.

But what privacy violations do "smart glasses" provide that weren't already trivially available? Tiny cameras are insanely cheap. A reasonably handy person could hide several on their person and there are plenty of "spy shops" that sell actual wearable hidden cameras.

The "I love ICE" kid was wearing Meta Ray Bans but the first video I saw of it was from someone else' camera. I can't leave the house without getting filmed from multiple angles. The only thing those glasses do is make it really obvious that the wearer is a dumbass.

[–] Tiresia@slrpnk.net 9 points 5 hours ago

There is a big difference between available and normalized. Buying a tiny camera to film people without consent makes you a creep in a way buying a social media corporation's product doesn't. Pulling out a camera to film someone is a signal to them that they are being filmed in a way looking at them while wearing camera glasses isn't.

These glasses could change the landscape of our social reality. If they catch on, corporations will know your facial expressions, your location, and what you are looking at whenever you are in public, even if you have no account.

They will learn the face you make when you are too tired to argue and tell the shops you're heading towards that you're an easy mark today.

They will see a flash of defiance on your face when you hear someone say Nazi shit and change the video advertisements you walk by to ones that will make you feel powerless.

And so the net is pulled ever-tighter. All we can do is try to cut our way out.

[–] Joelk111@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

The main differences I can think of are:

  • Better video quality
  • More normalized
  • Easier to get your hands on
  • They look like raybans and are brand name
  • They're debatibly "cool"
  • Also Facebook is involved

Basically they produce better video and are more normalized in society.

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 22 points 11 hours ago (4 children)

The difference is that meta glasses constantly upload to their creepy servers to do automatic face recognition.

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[–] northernlights@lemmy.today 93 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (12 children)

Paywalled article. Here's the link to the app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.pocketpc.nearbyglasses

Edit: it's licensed under a license I never heard of. I'm curious, I don't understand why it was needed.

"Why draft new licenses? Until now, there has been no standardization of this kind of source code license, even though it has become increasingly common. This has resulted in confusing and overlapping licenses, which need to be analyzed one at a time. Lack of standardization has used up the time and resources of many in the software industry, as well as their lawyers. The objective of the PolyForm Project is standardization and reduction of costs for developers and users."

Seems like that exact XKCD about standards.

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[–] lechekaflan@lemmy.world 41 points 16 hours ago (1 children)
[–] speckofrust@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Perfect response. Record someone without consent, it should be the last time those glasses are wearable.

[–] doingthestuff@lemy.lol 1 points 46 minutes ago

I can't speak to the laws in other nations but in the US it depends a lot on where they're recording. If you're just out on the street, it's not only not a crime to record in public, it's a protected right. So if you punch them they'd be solidly in their rights to mace you or break your legs, maybe even shoot you in many states. And then have you arrested and force you to pay for a new pair of glasses.

But if they were doing that shit on private property or somewhere worse like a restroom, give them the ol western bouncer treatment and send them flying out the door with a broken pair of glasses. I mean you could assault them out bin public too, but there could be some unpleasant consequences.

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 257 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Admittedly, this is cyberpunk as fuck. 

Should not be needed… but it’s a fucking cool solution. 

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[–] possumparty@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (1 children)

Well, my glasses don't give off bluetooth signal or record but I'm afraid I'll end up caught in the crossfire with my XR glasses on trains and planes. I travel for work so it's nice to have a big screen to watch media on when I'm traveling for 20+ hours.

[–] scott_anon_21@lemmy.ca 5 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Not the purpose of the thread I know but would you care to share additional information? Model, price, comfort, compatibility, are they good?

[–] possumparty@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 9 hours ago

I picked up the Viture Luma Cyberpunk edition for like $550 USD, they're sold out now but so far I think they're okay. They definitely don't fully live up to the hype but that's part of being an early adopter in the enthusiast space I guess. The app kinda sucks and it's seriously limited, so if you're looking for that 3DoF or lightweight use on the 180VR you'll be out of luck there. The immersive 3d is a neat party trick and seems to work well enough. I like that function for showing off videos that I've taken while traveling or at work. They have built in diopters so you can get the focus right while you're using them as a follow screen. For watching movies or playing games on your tablet while traveling, I think they'll be hard to beat. They have apps for android, windows, ios, and mac. I haven't tried them on PC yet but I'm hoping the pc app is far more flushed out. So far, comfort is pretty good and it seems like they'll be okay for burning a few hours. I also work in a remote location with frequent weather days, so having a private method of watching big screen content in my cabin was a big selling point for me.

Overall, neat little device, but it's definitely quite early in the product development cycle and I'm excited to see what the next few years hold.

Sorry for the incoherent bits and poor formatting, I'm actively falling asleep while typing this out. I'll be more than happy to answer any additional follow-up questions you may have when I'm fully awake.

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