Meta is reportedly reviving its abandoned smartwatch project for a 2026 release, according to _The Information_. The Facebook Watch will reportedly track health data, though details remain scarce. This comeback follows Meta's 2021 attempt that was abandoned amid privacy controversies and Apple's App Tracking Transparency feature.

Back in 2021, Meta's smartwatch prototype leaked, showing an Apple Watch-esque design with a camera. The company's rebranding from Facebook to Meta that year aimed to distance itself from its appalling record on privacy abuses, including the Cambridge Analytica scandal that cost $725 million in settlements. Apple's privacy feature reportedly cost Meta $10 billion in annual revenue by limiting data collection.

Meta's smartwatch strategy appears to follow its pattern of offering lower-priced hardware to maximize user adoption. Zuckerberg previously stated the company targets "people who can't afford to pay" — a strategy that prioritizes data collection over privacy. Given Meta's history, the Facebook Watch will likely monetize user health data including blood pressure, sleep patterns, and medication information. The company's business model depends on converting personal data into advertising revenue, making this smartwatch potentially one of the most privacy-invasive consumer devices ever released.