App Aims to Expose Smart Glasses Wearers Amid Rising Privacy Concerns
One of the biggest concerns around so-called “luxury surveillance” gadgets — especially smart glasses equipped with built-in cameras — is how ordinary they look. Unlike bulky recording equipment, these devices are often indistinguishable from regular eyewear. That means someone could be filming you without you ever realizing it.
Now, a new Android app is attempting to change that.
Called Nearby Glasses, the app alerts users if someone close by may be wearing smart glasses or other always-recording wearable technology. It works quietly in the background, scanning for Bluetooth signals emitted by certain devices, including wearables from companies like Meta, Snap, and Oakley’s smart products.
Growing Backlash Against Always-Recording Devices
The launch comes at a time when resistance to always-listening, and always-recording technology is gaining momentum. Critics argue that these devices gather and process data about people nearby — often without their consent. As wearable tech becomes more discreet and widespread, concerns about privacy and misuse are intensifying.
Yves Jeanrenaud, the developer behind Nearby Glasses, said he was partly motivated after reading investigative reports about wearable surveillance devices. Some of those reports highlighted how Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have allegedly been used in sensitive situations, including immigration raids and the harassment of sex workers.
On the app’s project page, Jeanrenaud described smart glasses as an “intolerable intrusion” and a form of technology that disregards consent. In an email interview, he said witnessing the scale of potential abuse pushed him to act. He also pointed to Meta’s move to integrate face recognition features into its smart glasses, calling it a “floodgate” for privacy-invasive behaviour.
How the App Works
Nearby Glasses detects devices by scanning for Bluetooth signals that carry publicly assigned manufacturer identifiers. Each Bluetooth-enabled device broadcasts a unique code tied to its maker. If the app detects a signal linked to companies like Meta or Snap, it sends the user an alert.
The app also allows users to manually add additional Bluetooth identifiers. For example, by adding the identifier “0x004C,” users can scan for nearby devices manufactured by Apple. When tested with that identifier enabled, the app quickly generated multiple alerts — likely detecting nearby iPhones, AirPods, and other Apple devices.
However, Jeanrenaud acknowledges that false positives are possible. Because the app identifies manufacturers rather than specific products, it could mistake a nearby virtual reality headset for smart glasses made by the same company. Still, larger devices like VR headsets are generally visible and easier to identify.
Early Testing and Future Plans
In real-world testing, the app did not immediately detect any smart glasses in use — suggesting either limited adoption in that area or simply a lack of nearby users at the time. But its ability to detect manufacturer signals demonstrates that the technology functions as intended.
Jeanrenaud says he is continuing to refine the app and add new features. While there is interest in an iPhone version, development depends on his availability and resources.
He admits the app is not a complete solution. “It’s a technical solution to a social problem,” he said, describing the project as a “desperate act of resistance” — one that he hopes will at least give some people greater awareness of the technology around them.
Representatives for Meta and Snap did not respond to requests for comment regarding the app or the broader privacy debate.
As wearable technology becomes more seamless — and less
