Against surveillance: Android app detects nearby smart glasses
Sociologist Yves Jeanrenaud is bothered by smart glasses and developed an Android app to help locate nearby devices.
The Android app "Nearby Glasses" searches the surroundings for Bluetooth signals from known smart glasses.
(Image: Meta / Yves Jeanrenaud)
The Android app "Nearby Glasses" scans for Bluetooth signals in the vicinity. If it detects a manufacturer ID from Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Snap brand smart glasses in these signals, users are notified. Sociologist and occasional developer Yves Jeanrenaud programmed the app because he considers smart glasses to be an "intolerable intrusion" into privacy, as he writes on GitHub.
Jeanrenaud points out on GitHub that his app is not perfect. False alarms are likely because the ID only reveals the manufacturer, not the specific product. Thus, a VR headset could also be detected, while conversely, not all smart glasses would be captured. Jeanrenaud therefore calls for a sensible use of the app.
Videos by heise
Growing prevalence, open questions about data protection
Many smart glasses today are often only recognizable as such from close up. With Meta's model, an LED signals to outsiders that recording is taking place. However, in bright daylight, it is barely perceptible. The glasses are protected against simple manipulations such as taping over the LED and block the recording function in this case.
Due to their low prevalence, smart glasses have so far played hardly any role in public debate. This could change in the coming years. Market leader Meta and EssilorLuxottica sold seven million devices last year, and with the market entry of Google and Apple this year and next, the category could rapidly gain prevalence. Furthermore, according to a report by the New York Times, Meta is working on a limited facial recognition function for its smart glasses.
" do not want to promote techsolutionism nor do I want people to feel falsely secure," Jeanrenaud writes on Github. "We need better solutions to curb on surveilance tech and privacy intrution (sic!)."
"Nearby Glasses" is available in the Google Play Store. Alternatively, it is also available on GitHub, where further information on functionality and setup can be found. There, Jeanrenaud also mentions potential expansion steps such as the detection of further smart glasses and an iOS app. However, he still lacks the necessary development skills for the latter.
(tobe)
