Two Harvard students, AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio, revealed how Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses could be modified to identify strangers in real-time using facial recognition technology. Their project, I-XRAY, has raised serious concerns about privacy and data security.

Nguyen and Ardayfio integrated the glasses with publicly available tools like PimEyes, enabling the retrieval of personal information such as names, addresses, and phone numbers by simply looking at someone. The system displayed this data on the glasses' augmented reality interface within seconds.

The students clarified that their intent was to expose potential misuse of such technology rather than make it publicly available. “We wanted to highlight how easily this could be exploited,” Nguyen explained. They withheld the project's code due to safety concerns and clarifies that the main motive wasn't for commercial purpose.

Meta responded by emphasizing that its Ray-Ban smart glasses do not include built-in facial recognition capabilities. The company pointed out existing safeguards, such as an LED indicator light that activates during recording.

Experts have warned that this demonstration underscores the urgent need for stronger privacy protections. Individuals are advised to remove their data from public facial recognition databases and opt out of people search engines to mitigate risks.

As technology evolves, projects like I- Xray serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between innovation and privacy. Policymakers and tech companies face increasing pressure to address these challenges proactively.