Staff at the University of San Francisco warned students about possible inappropriate filming on campus using Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses. The notice follows reports that an unnamed man may have recorded students without consent.
Reports from campus and what the school said
The glasses include a small camera that starts with voice controls or a side button. It records from the wearer’s point of view.
According to PCMag, the university said the man approached women with unwanted comments and inappropriate dating questions. Reports suggest he could be posting these encounters on TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms.
“While no threats or acts of violence have been reported, we want our community to stay informed and take steps to support one another,” the university said. The school asked affected students to contact the USF Department of Public Safety or report through the university app.
PCMag wrote that neither Meta nor EssilorLuxottica has commented at the time of writing.
Privacy concerns around smart glasses
Smart glasses have raised privacy questions as the tech improves and spread grows. People can film others with little notice, which has led to public worry.
Past incidents and company guidance
PCMag noted a 404 Media report from last year. In that case, Harvard students used Meta’s Ray-Ban sunglasses with online facial-recognition databases to find the identities of strangers on public transport.
Concerns go back years. A San Francisco bar banned Google Glass in 2014 after patrons feared they were being filmed. Fights had broken out in nearby bars, and a woman said she was attacked for wearing the device inside.
Meta’s terms and conditions address privacy. The company reminds users that not “everyone loves being photographed,” and tells them not to record in sensitive places like locker rooms.
The terms also say to stop recording if anyone wants to opt out. They ask users to be careful and think of others before going live.
USF’s warning highlights how these issues persist on campuses and in public spaces. Students are on alert, and the school says it wants people to support each other and report concerns. PCMag’s report centers the discussion on consent and how people use new devices in daily life.
