Meta is facing renewed privacy scrutiny after a report uncovered dormant facial recognition technology within its smart glasses companion app.
The feature, reportedly named "NameTag," is not currently active.
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However, code related to facial recognition has been included in multiple updates to Meta's AI app since January 2026, according to the investigation.
The app is essential for several Meta smart glasses products, including the Ray-Ban Meta lineup, and has been installed over 50 million times.
Researchers who examined the code say it could use the glasses' camera to detect faces, create biometric identifiers, and compare them against a local database on the user's phone.
If a match is found, the wearer could receive a notification identifying the person.
Although the feature remains switched off, the discovery has unsettled privacy advocates.
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Facial recognition has long been controversial in consumer tech, and Meta has a complicated history with it.
In 2021, Meta shut down Facebook's facial recognition system and deleted over a billion stored faceprints after years of criticism, regulatory scrutiny, and legal battles.
Those included a $650 million settlement in Illinois and a later $1.4 billion settlement in Texas over biometric privacy claims.
The newly discovered code suggests Meta may still be exploring similar technology internally.
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Researchers found references to three AI models for face detection and processing, along with traces of a feature to help users remember people they've met.
One test generated a sample recognition notification using a face template based on philosopher Michel Foucault.
Meta, however, downplayed the discovery. Company spokesperson Ryan Daniels stated that the code reflects internal experimentation, not a planned product launch.
Meta says no final decision has been made and that it is not building a centralized facial recognition database.
The company added that it would move carefully and be transparent if it ever decided to bring such a feature to consumers.
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The report is likely to reignite debate over wearable AI. Supporters highlight convenience, while critics worry about the line between useful assistance and constant surveillance.
