Polish Developer Builds App That Detects Nearby Meta Smart Glasses

A Polish software developer has created an iPhone app designed to alert people when compatible Meta smart glasses are nearby, as concerns grow over the privacy implications of camera-equipped wearable technology.

The app, called Zuckoff, uses Bluetooth signals to identify supported smart glasses and estimate their distance from the user. However, it cannot determine whether the glasses are actively recording.

Zuckoff App Uses Bluetooth to Detect Smart Glasses

Paweł Szydłowski, 30, developed Zuckoff after seeing videos showing people using smart glasses to film and identify unsuspecting strangers, he told Business Insider.

The application scans Bluetooth signals transmitted by nearby devices and compares them with identifiers associated with known models of smart glasses.

Its main scanning screen provides an estimated distance between the user and detected glasses. A paid version can also operate in the background and send notifications when compatible devices are found nearby.

Around 5,000 people have used the app since it was released on Apple’s App Store last month.

How the Detection Technology Works

Szydłowski said he purchased several models of smart glasses and analysed the Bluetooth signals they broadcast. This allowed him to establish what amounts to a digital “fingerprint” for individual types of device.

Zuckoff examines information transmitted over Bluetooth, including unique identifiers and manufacturer data, and compares it against known smart-glasses signatures.

According to Szydłowski, some devices broadcast Bluetooth services containing names such as “Meta” or “Ray-Ban”, making them easier to identify.

“If the unique identifier matches, and also if the manufacturer identifier matches, then we have like an ultimate combo there,” he told Business Insider.

The system does have an important limitation. While Zuckoff can warn users that compatible smart glasses appear to be nearby, it cannot establish whether the device’s camera is switched on or whether the wearer is filming.

Privacy Concerns Surround Camera-Equipped Glasses

Szydłowski said part of his motivation came from videos showing pickup artists using smart glasses to record encounters with women who did not always appear to realise they were being filmed.

“We as a society have the right to at least know that someone is recording,” he said.

The development comes amid wider scrutiny of smart glasses as wearable cameras become increasingly discreet. The issue is particularly relevant in the UK and across Europe, where the growing use of connected devices has prompted questions about consent, transparency and the protection of personal privacy in public spaces.

Meta Uses LED Light to Signal Recording

Meta’s smart glasses include an LED indicator intended to illuminate when the camera is recording, giving people nearby a visual indication that filming may be taking place.

According to Business Insider, Meta recently disabled thousands of pairs of its smart glasses after discovering that some users had physically tampered with the indicator lights.

Meta Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth has defended the company’s approach to the privacy safeguard.

“We designed this camera to be noticed by the people around you,” Bosworth said in a recent Instagram video.

Szydłowski welcomed Meta’s recent efforts to strengthen privacy protections but argued that manufacturers could take further steps to ensure people are aware when wearable devices are capable of recording them.

He also told Business Insider that European Union regulators had contacted him seeking additional information about Zuckoff.

Smart Glasses Raise Wider Questions About Wearable Privacy

The emergence of tools such as Zuckoff highlights the tension between increasingly capable wearable technology and expectations of privacy in everyday life.

For users, the app provides a way of knowing when certain camera-equipped smart glasses may be close by, although it cannot confirm that recording is taking place. As smart glasses become more widespread, the debate over how manufacturers, regulators and users should balance innovation with privacy is likely to remain an important issue.

Graham Greene

Graham Greene is a contributor to Dealmakerz, covering news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on clear, accurate reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current affairs and developments that matter to them. His work highlights relevant stories, emerging trends, and key issues, presenting them in a balanced, accessible, and reader-friendly way.