The Dutch consumer association Consumentenbond has filed a lawsuit seeking to compel Meta to modify Ray-Ban Meta glasses to comply with privacy laws. The primary demand is for changes to default settings and an end to alleged unlawful data processing for AI within two weeks of a favorable ruling. If Meta declares compliance impossible, the group requests a ban on selling the camera-equipped glasses in the Netherlands, excluding cases of medical necessity for blind or partially sighted users. The claim centers on bystander privacy, arguing that recording indicators are insufficiently visible and can be covered. A hearing is scheduled for November 26, 2026, at the Amsterdam district court. Meta has not publicly responded to the current filing.
Austria's Federal Administrative Court overturned a Vienna education authority's decision to exclude a pupil from school for wearing Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Gen 2 Custom smart glasses. The judgment, decided on August 3, 2026, found that teacher and classmate unease about potential recording was insufficient grounds for expulsion without evidence of concrete serious misconduct or lasting danger. The court noted no proof of recordings but acknowledged suspicion due to the device's capabilities. The pupil had received medical certification requiring the specific glasses. This case marks the third European jurisdiction this year addressing camera glasses, following proposals for bans in Norway and the Netherlands. The court did not rule on whether smart glasses can ever justify exclusion under statutory conditions.
Two Dutch parliamentary groups, CDA and PRO, have formally requested that the cabinet push for a European ban on using camera glasses in public spaces. This initiative follows ministers’ September 24 decision to reject binding design rules at the EU level, opting instead to await findings from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). The requests are part of written consultation inputs published on October 6, not agreed policies. CDA specifically asks for the issue to be raised at the informal EU Telecom Council meeting scheduled for October 12–13. PRO seeks stricter prohibitions on wearing and selling such devices, citing concerns about non-compliance with existing data protection laws. As of October 10, no cabinet response had been published, meaning these proposals remain unanswered questions rather than enacted measures or confirmed diplomatic positions.
California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 1130, which would have made it unlawful to secretly record people using wearable devices. Newsom cited the bill’s imprecise definition of "wearable recording devices" and noted that existing state laws already provide similar protections. The legislation aimed to address concerns over always-listening tech, such as Meta and Snap glasses, by requiring explicit consent for recording in public places. Had it passed, violators faced fines or prison time, and non-compliant manufacturers could also be fined. This move prevents California from becoming the first state to regulate smart glasses usage, a step other countries like Norway are considering.