A new Android application, "Nearby Glasses," aims to alert users to the presence of individuals wearing smart glasses or recording-enabled wearable devices in their vicinity, as concerns grow over privacy.

The app functions by continuously scanning nearby Bluetooth signals for unique identifiers associated with device manufacturers. According to a report by TechCrunch, when a signal from companies like Meta (including its glasses in collaboration with Oakley) or Snap is detected, the application sends an immediate notification to the user.

The developer, Eve Gaumuron, stated that the idea for the application arose after reports surfaced regarding the use of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in immigration raids and the documentation of harassment incidents. Gaumuron views these devices as an “unacceptable violation of privacy,” particularly criticizing the inclusion of facial recognition features in some smart glasses by default, considering it an “open gateway to privacy-invading behaviors.”

The application also allows users to add custom Bluetooth identifiers, expanding the scope of detection to include other devices, such as Apple products.

Gaumuron acknowledges that the application may produce false alarms. For instance, it could detect a Meta virtual reality device and misidentify it as smart glasses, given their reliance on the same manufacturer identifier.

A practical test of the application in a neighborhood yielded no notifications related to smart glasses. However, upon adding a Bluetooth identifier specific to Apple products, notifications were immediately triggered, confirming that the technical detection mechanism operates as designed.

The app's release comes amid growing criticism of what is being called "luxury surveillance," where devices resemble ordinary glasses but can record video without the knowledge of those nearby.

Gaumuron concedes that the application is a “technical solution to a social problem,” indicating that the debate surrounding permanently recording devices will not soon disappear, especially as major companies accelerate the integration of more advanced features into their wearable devices.

Currently, neither Meta nor Snap have issued official comments regarding the application. Work is underway to add new features, and there are demands for the release of a version for iPhones.