Shubnam, a 38-year-old transfeminine graphic designer and educator in Delhi, was recorded without consent using Meta smart glasses styled like Wayfarers during a protest this spring against a bill narrowing legal recognition for transgender people in India. The footage, edited into a mocking reel, drew millions of views and widespread transphobic abuse across Instagram, X, and YouTube. "All it took was one unconsented video to rewind two decades of progress," Shubnam told MIT Technology Review. They haven’t worn a sari outside their neighborhood since.

Experts warn that as smart glasses go mainstream, privacy problems are becoming especially acute in India, where covert recording and non-consensual image circulation are already pervasive. Cases of cyberstalking, sextortion, and deepfakes are growing, while law enforcement increasingly adopts AI-powered surveillance tools including their own AI-enabled smart glasses.

Smart glasses are among the fastest-growing devices in India's wearables market, with Reliance Jio planning to launch a sub-$105 rival to Meta's $420 glasses later this year. The core privacy issue is that these cameras don't look like cameras, leaving targets unaware they're being recorded. Meta rejects responsibility for protecting users from intrusions, placing the burden on bystanders to spot a small LED indicator. Creators have demonstrated ways to circumvent the recording light, making covert recording easier and disproportionately harming women and marginalized groups.