Women and girls could face increased risks in public spaces if Meta proceeds with plans to integrate artificial intelligence driven facial recognition into its smart glasses, according to organisations working to combat domestic abuse.
The concerns follow reports that Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, is considering adding facial recognition technology to its wearable devices within the year. Campaign groups argue that such functionality could pose direct and serious dangers to survivors of abuse.
Facial Recognition And Identification Features
According to experts, the proposed technology would allow users to identify individuals and retrieve information about them using the platform’s AI tools.
It has been suggested that the system, which is still under development, could operate through a “name tag” mechanism, recognising faces linked to a user via a Meta platform or through public profiles on Facebook or Instagram. Sources cited in media reports indicated that the system would not permit indiscriminate searches of any individual.
Organisations Refuge and Women’s Aid stated that the “tragic reality” is that abusers could exploit such capabilities for malicious purposes.
Concerns Over Safety In Public Spaces
Emma Pickering, Head of Technology Facilitated Abuse at Refuge, described the reported plans as posing a “direct and serious risk” to survivors.
“Surveillance is an extremely common tactic used by perpetrators and an instant identification feature could put survivors at risk, enabling abusers to locate and track them,” she said.
She added that Refuge supports “countless survivors experiencing technology enabled abuse every day” and that it is “far too easy” for perpetrators to turn smart devices into tools of control, with “devastating” consequences.
The organisations stressed that technology companies must place women’s safety at the centre of product design. Ms Pickering said it is unacceptable for safety to be treated as an afterthought, noting that devices are repeatedly launched without sufficient consideration of how they may be used to harm women and girls.
It has also been highlighted that such a feature could threaten the safety of all women and girls in public spaces by enabling access to identifying information without consent.
Broader Context Of Technology Enabled Abuse
The debate intensifies amid recorded incidents of women being filmed without consent using smart glasses. Experts point to multiple potential consequences, including the creation of deepfakes, increased self censorship in public spaces and exposure to online discussions with global reach.
Last month, Refuge warned that abusers are increasingly using wearable devices such as smart watches and rings for surveillance, harassment and coercion.
Data from the organisation show a 62 per cent increase in referrals to its specialist technology facilitated abuse team in 2025, with 829 cases recorded, compared with 512 in 2024.
A spokesperson for Meta said the company is still “exploring options” and would adopt a “careful approach” before implementing any such feature.
With information from The Independent