Two Harvard students have demonstrated how Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, combined with facial recognition software, can quickly reveal people’s personal details in real-time. The system they developed, I-XRAY, captures video via the glasses and pairs it with a computer program that uses AI to recognize faces.
It can then retrieve sensitive information, like names, addresses, and phone numbers from public databases. All the process happens within minutes, highlighting potential risks for personal privacy.
Combining AI with Off-the-Shelf Technology
I-XRAY operates by using the Meta glasses to livestream video to Instagram. A computer program scans this feed, identifying faces in the crowd and comparing them with images available online. From there, it connects the dots between those photos and additional information such as addresses and phone numbers.
What’s remarkable is that this isn’t futuristic tech — it relies on tools that are already widely available. One such service, PimEyes, is known for its ability to accurately match faces with online images, making this kind of data extraction possible for anyone with access to these technologies. The use of Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses is particularly concerning because they resemble regular sunglasses, making it difficult for anyone to realize they’re being filmed.
I-XRAY: The AI Glasses That Reveal Anyone’s Personal Details—Home Address, Name, Phone Number, and More—Just from Looking at Them
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In a demonstration, students AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio used the glasses to identify people in public spaces, armed with the information retrieved by their system. The ability to seamlessly blend this facial recognition tech into everyday environments raises new questions about how surveillance tools might be misused.
How Personal Data is Compiled in Real-Time
Technology behind I-XRAY combines multiple steps into one quick, automated process. The glasses capture a person’s image, which is then analyzed using AI to match that face with publicly available information. In some cases, this includes data such as relatives’ names, home addresses, and even phone numbers. The system feeds this information back to an app on a phone, allowing the user to access personal details with minimal effort.
Nguyen and Ardayfio designed I-XRAY as a way to demonstrate the potential misuse of smart glasses and facial recognition technology. They clarified that they don’t plan to release the software to the public.
However, they wanted to make people aware of what’s already possible with existing tech. While some have considered using the system for harmless pranks or networking, others have raised serious concerns about its potential dangers, especially when it comes to privacy violations.
Meta’s Role and Responsibility
Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses come with a small privacy indicator light that turns on when the camera is recording. However, this feature is far from foolproof. In outdoor environments or crowded spaces, the light can go unnoticed, making it easy for someone to record video without attracting attention. Despite this, Meta encourages users to respect privacy guidelines, reminding them to ask for consent or gesture when recording others.
When 404media questioned about the use of its glasses in this way, Meta referred to its terms of service for the Facebook View app, which accompanies the glasses. The terms emphasize that users are responsible for respecting local laws and ensuring that others are aware of recordings. But the guidelines alone don’t prevent potential misuse, especially when people choose to ignore them.
New Ray-Ban Meta Update
Last month, Meta unveiled a series of updates to the Ray-Ban smart glasses, marking a leap in wearable technology. During the recent Meta Connect 2024 event, CEO Mark Zuckerberg showcased the glasses’ new capabilities, which include real-time AI video processing and live language translation. The enhancements are designed to merge the convenience of smartphone features with the innovative design of wearable devices, thereby enriching the overall user experience.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:40 pm CET
