A hobbyist developer's new app, which can detect nearby smart glasses, comes amid resistance to always-on recording and listening devices that invade people's privacy.

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A hobbyist developer has released an Android app called Nearby Glasses that scans for Bluetooth signals from smart glasses made by Meta and Snap, alerting users when such devices are detected nearby. The app was created in response to growing concerns about covert recording by always-on wearable devices, including Meta Ray-Bans being used in immigration raids and to harass individuals. It works by identifying publicly assigned Bluetooth manufacturer identifiers and supports custom identifiers for broader detection. The app may produce false positives (e.g., detecting VR headsets), and an iPhone version is being considered depending on the developer's availability.

A new app alerts you if someone nearby is wearing smart glasses