In a move that sparked widespread discussion in technology and privacy circles, a new application for the Android system was launched on the Google Play Store under the name “Nearby Glasses.”
This app aims to alert users when there is someone near them wearing smart glasses equipped with a camera.
The idea behind this app is to counter what some consider to be surveillance technologies spreading throughout society. The app works by listening to “bluetooth Low Energy” signals from nearby devices, and looking for “advertising frames” broadcast by smart glasses like “Ray-Ban Meta” or “Snap Spectacles,” and other similar devices.
When the app detects a signal matching the identifiers of the manufacturers of these glasses, the user receives a notification that there are potential smart glasses nearby.
However, the app cannot determine whether the glasses are actually recording video or taking photos. Additionally, the app may misidentify between smart glasses and other devices that use the same Bluetooth protocols, such as virtual reality headsets or smart watches, which may lead to some false notifications.
The motivation behind creating this application is to increase users’ awareness of the importance of privacy in public places, especially with the increasing use of devices linked to artificial intelligence that can capture information or images without permission.
The developers of the “Nearby Glasses” application confirmed that it is not intended to confront or attack people who wear these glasses, but rather for alert and awareness purposes only, while stressing the necessity of legal treatment and mutual respect between individuals.
The launch of this app has sparked widespread controversy, with some suggesting that the need for such apps highlights deeper concerns about how wearable devices can be used to invade privacy.
Numerous cases have been documented in which people have been filmed without their knowledge using camera-equipped glasses, raising public concern about the limits of surveillance in public spaces.
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On the other hand, experts stress that the application does not represent a final solution, but rather a first step in a broader discussion about privacy and transparency in an era in which smart devices are increasingly capable of collecting data silently.
The application is available for free for Android users via the Google Play Store, while the iOS version is still under development.
