A new application for Android devices, Nearby Glasses, has been developed to scan the surrounding area and alert users when smart glasses are nearby.
This open-source utility tracks devices through their unique Bluetooth identifiers. The app can identify products from Meta (Oakley) and Snap.
When a relevant signal is detected, Nearby Glasses sends a notification to the user. Users can also add their own Bluetooth keys to expand the list of detectable devices.
On the GitHub page, the app’s developer, Yves Jeanrenaud, described smart glasses as an “intolerable invasion of privacy, disregard for others’ will, and a terrible technological invention.”
“Some smart glasses have a small LED indicating recording is in progress. But it can be easily disabled […] Fourth-generation ‘smart’ glasses have already been used for instant facial recognition, and reportedly, this feature will be available in the fifth generation. This endangers many people,” said the creator of Nearby Glasses.
Jeanrenaud also warned that his app might work inaccurately, potentially misidentifying other devices from smart glasses manufacturers. He urged users not to harass individuals suspected of wearing hidden recording devices.
In an interview with 404 Media, the developer shared that news of covert surveillance using smart glasses inspired him to create the solution. Such devices have been used during immigration raids in the U.S., as well as for filming and blackmailing sex workers.
“Evidently, surveillance technologies are not only used for nefarious purposes by government thugs but also contribute to misogynistic behavior and rape culture,” noted Jeanrenaud.
Back in September 2025, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced the Meta Ray-Ban Display—the first smart glasses with an integrated display.
In November, the Chinese corporation Alibaba launched sales of its AI-powered smart glasses, Qwen.
