EssilorLuxottica smart-glasses growth faces tougher privacy scrutiny

Smart glasses that look like ordinary eyewear are attracting scrutiny just as EssilorLuxottica and Meta broaden the market. Reuters reported global AI-enabled-glasses shipments rose to 8.4 million units in 2025 from about 2.1 million in 2024; Meta eyewear represented 81.3% of global shipments in the first half of 2026.

The European Data Protection Board said the devices can facilitate covert recording. Its preliminary guidance suggested recording lights, sound alerts, nearby notifications, limits on livestreaming, face blurring and location restrictions in schools and hospitals. Norway proposed a temporary ban in selected locations and Australia is considering workplace restrictions.

EssilorLuxottica said rules should protect rights while allowing innovation. Analysts cited by Reuters saw additional restrictions as more likely than an outright European ban, but privacy acceptance remains central to whether camera-equipped glasses become a mainstream alternative to phones.

For buyers, the trade-off is visible design versus richer functionality: removing cameras may ease privacy concerns but also limits the recording and AI features driving the category.

Image: Meta / Ray-Ban Meta.

Sources

• Reuters analysis
• EssilorLuxottica newsroom