More than 70 civil society organisations have warned Meta against plans to introduce facial recognition features in its smart glasses, citing risks to privacy and public safety.

The coalition, which includes the American Civil Liberties Union, Electronic Privacy Information Center and Fight for the Future, says the proposed feature could expose individuals to stalking, harassment and surveillance.

According to the groups, the technology—reportedly known internally as “Name Tag”—would allow users to identify people in public through artificial intelligence embedded in smart glasses produced in partnership with EssilorLuxottica.

They argue that such a system could put vulnerable groups, including abuse victims, immigrants and LGBTQ+ persons, at risk.

“People should be able to move through their daily lives without fear that stalkers, scammers, abusers… are silently and invisibly verifying their identities,” the coalition said in a letter to Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The organisations are demanding that Meta abandon the feature entirely, insisting that privacy concerns cannot be addressed through minor safeguards or opt-out options.

They have also called on the company to disclose any links between its wearable technology and law enforcement agencies, as well as any past misuse involving harassment or surveillance.

In response, Meta said it does not currently offer such facial recognition features but would take a cautious approach if it considers introducing them.

The debate comes amid growing global scrutiny of biometric technologies and concerns about the erosion of privacy in public spaces.