Alluded smartglasses usage by a US woman clandestinely recorded by an influencer, with the woman expressing distress, stating "This is a violation."
In a disturbing turn of events, Twitch streamer Herculyse found herself the victim of a covert recording using Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. On July 26, 2025, content creator Jose Reyes admitted to breaking rules to gain more views and clicks.
Herculyse was unaware she was being recorded when she was out by herself in a supermarket. The man, identified as Reyes, approached her and complimented her appearance, feigning not speaking fluent English to make her uncomfortable.
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which look like ordinary sunglasses, include built-in cameras and microphones, allowing discreet photo capture, video recording, and calls with a simple tap. The glasses have a small white LED indicator that lights when recording, but many users and critics argue that the light is too easy to miss, especially in bright or crowded environments, enabling covert recording without bystanders’ clear awareness [2].
Reyes used these glasses to record a video of Herculyse, which he later uploaded on social media platforms. The video was later deleted by Reyes following the intense public backlash.
Herculyse posted about the incident on X (formerly Twitter), expressing her discomfort and disapproval of the incident. She stated that it was disturbing, physically sickening, violating, and wrong. She also expressed gratitude for the public backlash leading to the video's removal.
However, her efforts to have the video taken down were not immediately successful. She complained to Instagram, but the social media platform refused. It was only after a wave of public outrage that the video was eventually removed.
The incident has brought to light significant privacy concerns related to Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Beyond recording, these glasses require broad access to personal data to function fully, which may expose users to data privacy risks [1][3]. The glasses' reputation for covert recording and their potential for perpetuating pervasive surveillance and privacy intrusion have raised ethical and legal concerns [1][2].
European privacy authorities, like Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, have challenged Meta to prove the LED light was an effective notification, indicative of wider privacy regulatory attention to these glasses [2]. Many venues, including clubs, ban recording devices due to privacy and consent issues, and some users have even found ways to disable the LED recording indicator [2].
Herculyse's Twitter post link remains: https://t.co/uPVCS9uoub and the accompanying picture is: pic.twitter.com/wrtA2y7Alh. She expressed hope that other affected women's videos could also have a similar outcome.
Reyes, in a subsequent video, admitted that he does this on purpose for views and income. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for stricter regulations and user awareness regarding the use of such devices.
References: [1] European Data Protection Board. (2022). Opinion 06/2022 on the processing of personal data in the context of smart glasses and other wearable devices. [2] The Verge. (2022). Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses raise privacy concerns as users disable LED recording light. [3] The New York Times. (2022). Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses: A privacy and surveillance risk, experts warn.
- The disturbing incident involving Herculyse's covert recording highlights the potential for privacy invasions with new technology like Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which are equipped with cameras and microphones for discreet recording.
- The smart glasses incident, facilitated by Jose Reyes, demonstrates the impact of technology on social-media platforms, as the recorded video was initially uploaded online for entertainment and views.
- As more voice is raised regarding the ethical concerns and privacy risks associated with smart devices like Ray-Ban Meta glasses, there is a growing need for stricter regulations and general-news outlets covering crime-and-justice issues to address these matters.
