Breach of privacy cases arising from use of Meta glasses

Recent reports by the BBC and other media outlets have focussed on the increased use of Meta glasses in the UK, and how they are being misused to breach the privacy of others, as well as to harass and intimidate women in public. 

Harassment is a criminal act, as well as being behaviour which could entitle the victim to bring a claim for damages, as well as claims for breach of privacy and unlawful data processing. The use of Meta glasses to create content and in some cases to blackmail women, could well lead to an increase in these types of claim for compensation being brought.

With Meta claiming that over 7 million pairs of their glasses have already been sold, and other tech and media companies developing their own versions, this is an issue that is likely to grow rather than diminish in forthcoming years. 

How are Meta glasses being used to harass women?

There have been reports of intimidation and harassment of women by individuals using Meta glasses to record them covertly. Examples of this type of unlawful behaviour are: 

• men approaching women, who are not aware they are being filmed, and asking them to go on a date. This material is then posted online on platforms such as Tik Tok and You Tube, as supposedly educational or informative material for other men; or
• individuals being pranked by people wearing the glasses .

Women and people who have been the subject of pranks, report feeling shocked and humiliated after discovering that videos featuring them have been published online. 

When women who have been covertly filmed seek to have the content removed from social media platforms, some publishers have demanded money in return for deleting their videos. Even if the material is removed from platforms, the women who have been filmed remain concerned that it will be published again in the future. 

What laws apply to Meta glasses?

There are various laws which could apply to the misuse of Meta glasses, although as they are a very new invention, there are no specific laws that apply, and no legislation to deal with any problems is currently being considered by the government. 

The three main areas of law which could come into play are the criminal offence of blackmail, and civil claims relating to breach of privacy and data processing. 

Blackmail and Meta glasses

If a publisher of an embarassing video demands payment in return for deletion, they could well be committing the criminal offence of blackmail. Any such behaviour should be reported to the police immediately. 

The police will consider whether to bring charges against the person attempting to blackmail someone into paying to remove content filmed using Meta glasses.

Breach of Privacy using Meta glasses

If the video has been filmed without the woman's knowledge or consent, there is a strong argument for her to bring a claim for damages breach of privacy, or misuse of private information, although this is subject to the general principle that when you are in a public place, you cannot claim the right to privacy. 

Everyone has the right to privacy in certain circumstances however, and if that right is breached, particularly by someone who is making money from the videos they take, you could bring a claim against them for damages. Each case is different, and the content of the video will need to be considered carefully in order to decide whether you can bring a claim. 

In the most serious cases of breach of privacy, Meta glasses could be used to film women in situations where they are entitled to expect that they have privacy, for example having sex, using bathrooms or changing rooms, or attending medical appointments.

Data Processing Claims and Meta glasses

The General Data Protection Regulations apply to circumstances where someone takes video of you in the street. The person taking the video would be considered a data controller under the Regulations, and you would be considered a data subject. 

The data controller has an obligation to the data subject to process the data lawfully, which would include not sharing the data with third parties, unless they had a lawful basis to do so. 

A breach of the Regulations could mean you are entitled to raise a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office, as well as bringing a claim for damages against the person who took the video of you. 

Harassment Claims arising from Meta Glasses

If someone is deliberately pranked by an individual wearing Meta glasses, and that content is uploaded to a media platform and monetised, it is possible that the victim could bring a claim for damages for harassment. 

In order to bring a successful claim for harassment, the victim needs to demonstrate that they have been harassed on more than one occasion. Those occasions could be the original harassment in a public place, as well as the further harassing act of uploading the material and making it available to the world at large. 

Get Legal Advice About Meta Glasses Misuse

If you believe that your privacy has been breached by someone wearing Meta glasses, you might be able to bring a claim for damages. 

Our team of legal experts have been helping clients with claims for breaches of privacy and data processing claims for many years. We understand that the content can be embarassing for you to discuss, and we will deal with your case sensitively and appropriately. 

Contact us today to find out whether you can bring a claim if you have been covertly filmed by someone using Meta glasses. 

FAQs: Privacy, Harassment, and Legal Claims Related to Meta Glasses

Here are some common questions about the misuse of Meta glasses, your legal rights, and what you can do if your privacy is breached.

1. Can I take legal action if I’m filmed without my consent by someone wearing Meta glasses?
   Yes. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to bring a claim for breach of privacy, misuse of private information, harassment or unlawful data processing.
2. Is being filmed in public by Meta glasses illegal?
   Filming in public doesn’t automatically breach privacy laws, but if the content is used for harassment, blackmail, or monetised without consent, legal claims may be possible.
3. What counts as harassment when Meta glasses are involved?
   Harassment can occur if you are repeatedly subjected to distressing behaviour, including being filmed without consent and having the content published or monetised online.
4. Can someone be charged with blackmail for videos taken with Meta glasses?
   Yes. If a person demands money to remove videos filmed with Meta glasses, this could constitute blackmail and should be reported to the police.
5. Do data protection laws apply to Meta glasses footage?
   Yes. Under GDPR, the person filming is considered a data controller and must process personal data lawfully. Breaches may allow you to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office or pursue damages.
6. What should I do if I’ve been covertly filmed or harassed using Meta glasses?
   You should seek legal advice promptly. A solicitor can assess your case, help you bring claims for privacy, harassment, or data breaches, and guide you on removing content from online platforms.