Meta Strips Face Recognition Code From Smart Glasses App

Meta has removed face recognition software from its Meta AI companion app following public disclosure of the technology's presence, according to a code analysis by WIRED.

The latest version of the app, which supports Meta's smart glasses line, no longer contains software libraries for an internal system called NameTag. These components were present in the previous version despite never being publicly activated.

The NameTag system

NameTag was designed to convert faces captured by Meta's smart glasses into biometric signatures—commonly called faceprints—and match them against a database stored on users' devices. The system also cropped, indexed, and stored locally any faces it failed to recognize for future processing.

WIRED first reported the code's presence after discovering substantial portions of NameTag embedded in the Meta AI app as early as January. The app has been downloaded by more than 50 million users. The New York Times initially revealed NameTag's development in February, citing internal documents that showed Meta was considering a launch this year, potentially during what one memo called a "dynamic political environment" when privacy advocates would be distracted.

Company response and removal

After WIRED's initial report, Meta executives disputed the findings. Vice president of communications Andy Stone stated the company couldn't discuss how the system would work because "the feature does not exist." Chief technology officer Andrew Bosworth called the reporting "incredibly misleading" and "absolutely dishonest."

Meta declined to answer questions about whether it had created the face profile database NameTag would use, how long the app retains photographs and biometric data of unrecognized individuals, or whether that data would be transmitted to Meta's servers. The company also would not clarify if users could opt in or out of the system.

The Friday update removed nearly all NameTag components, including the face recognition software itself, the recognition process code, a "Person recognized" alert, and a folder designated for storing cropped images and biometric signatures of unidentified faces. A few fragments remain, including a debug menu label and a dormant profile link.

Why it matters

The episode highlights the gap between what technology companies build into their products and what they publicly acknowledge or activate. Privacy advocates have warned that face recognition in consumer smart glasses could enable stalking and identification of strangers in public spaces. The incident also demonstrates how companies can embed controversial capabilities into widely distributed software before making final decisions about deployment—or informing users of their presence.

Enforcement questions

Kade Crockford, director of the technology for liberty program at the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, said the removal doesn't erase the original decision to ship the code. Crockford pointed to the Massachusetts House of Representatives' recent unanimous passage of a consumer privacy bill with strong enforcement provisions as a model other states should follow.

"Meta's sneaky tactics in slipping the face-recognition code into its smart glasses show exactly why data privacy bills need the teeth of strong enforcement," Crockford said. "Companies like Meta prioritize their bottom line, so lawmakers need to speak in the only language its C-suite understands."

Meta did not respond to questions about why the code was removed, whether the changes were planned before the initial disclosure, or whether the company still intends to pursue NameTag. These details were first reported by WIRED.