Meta Faces Legal Notice in Delhi Over Alleged Covert Recording via Smart Glasses

A Delhi man has served a legal notice to Meta Platforms and an Instagram user, demanding the removal of an alleged covertly recorded video and ₹2.05 crore in damages. The notice, sent on August 24 by lawyer and internet freedom activist Apar Gupta, focuses on the use of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses to record and post footage without the complainant's knowledge.

According to the details in the notice, the incident occurred on July 24 at a coffee outlet in Khan Market, New Delhi. The complainant stated that he was accosted and harassed by an unfamiliar Instagram user. He alleged that the encounter was secretly captured using Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, with unidentified associates recording from other vantage points.

The resulting video was published as an Instagram Reel on July 26, accumulating hundreds of thousands of views. The complainant reported receiving messages regarding the video from friends, colleagues, and professional contacts. On July 27, the complainant reported the video and the account to Instagram using the platform's grievance mechanism.

The legal notice stated that Instagram rejected the reports, concluding that the material did not violate its Community Standards. Furthermore, the complaint submitted to Meta's India Grievance Officer reportedly received no acknowledgement or decision by the date of the notice. The legal filing contends that Meta has violated provisions of the Information Technology Act.

The notice requires Meta to preserve the video and its complete metadata. Additionally, Meta has been asked to disclose whether it maintains a mechanism for reporting abuse involving its smart glasses, and whether product-safety measures are accessible to individuals who are recorded without their consent.

This development follows ongoing global scrutiny regarding wearable technology and privacy. Earlier this year, an investigation by Swedish newspapers Svenska Dagbladet and Göteborgs-Posten revealed that footage and audio recorded by Meta's smart glasses were reviewed by human contractors in Kenya. That material reportedly included sensitive personal content, such as bathroom visits, individuals undressing, and visible bank cards. Ireland's Data Protection Commission has also previously questioned the adequacy of the tiny LED indicator designed to alert people that they are being filmed.

"This legal notice highlights a critical operational and compliance challenge for consumer hardware and social media conglomerates. As wearable technology capable of discreet recording becomes more mainstream, companies must establish clear, transparent safety protocols and responsive grievance mechanisms for non-users whose privacy may be compromised. For the broader tech and startup ecosystem, this case underscores that product safety and data protection frameworks must extend beyond platform users to protect public privacy, or companies risk severe regulatory and legal liabilities." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes