Meta Platforms(US:META) Jin Rong Jie·2026-02-15 00:41Core Viewpoint - Meta is planning to reintroduce facial recognition technology in its smart glasses, named "Name Tag," which will allow users to identify individuals and access related information through an AI assistant [2][3]. Group 1: Introduction of Facial Recognition - Meta intends to incorporate facial recognition into smart glasses produced in collaboration with Ray-Ban and Oakley, with plans to launch this feature as early as this year [2]. - The internal discussions regarding the reintroduction of this feature began last year, with a focus on balancing safety and privacy concerns [2][3]. Group 2: Political Context and Concerns - An internal memo suggests that the current political climate in the U.S. is seen as an opportune moment to launch this feature, as public scrutiny may be diverted due to other pressing issues [3]. - There are significant civil rights and privacy concerns surrounding facial recognition technology, with fears of misuse by governments and businesses [3][4]. Group 3: Market Competition and Product Differentiation - The smart glasses market is becoming competitive, with Meta facing challenges from companies like OpenAI that are developing their own wearable AI devices [4]. - Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, aims to differentiate the smart glasses by enhancing the functionality of the AI assistant through facial recognition [4][5]. Group 4: Technical and Ethical Considerations - The facial recognition feature will not function as a universal identification tool, allowing users to identify only certain individuals, such as friends on Meta platforms [5]. - Meta has been developing facial recognition technology for over a decade and is exploring its application to assist visually impaired individuals [6]. Group 5: Historical Context and Legal Issues - Meta has faced significant legal challenges related to privacy, including a $2 billion settlement in Illinois and Texas for unauthorized data collection [7]. - As part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, Meta agreed to conduct privacy risk assessments for new products, although recent changes to the review process have raised concerns [7][8].