A new app detects and notifies when smart glasses are around

Privacy advocates have a new tool in the fight against covert surveillance: Nearby Glasses, an app that alerts users when smart glasses are in their vicinity.

Developed by Yves Jeanrenaud, the app identifies the unique Bluetooth signatures emitted by devices like Meta’s Ray-Bans and sends a push notification to the user’s phone. This solution emerged following growing concerns over how easily wearable tech can be used to film individuals without their consent.

It comes as the tech industry pushes for more advanced AI integration in wearables. Meta is reportedly exploring facial recognition capabilities for its glasses, while ChatGPT maker OpenAI is developing its own hardware.

However, the Nearby Glasses app isn’t perfect, as users may experience false positives triggered by other hardware, such as VR headsets. Currently, it is available for Android users through the Google Play Store and GitHub.