Is Recording Strangers with Meta Glasses Illegal in India? Legal and Privacy Implications

Travelling on public transport like buses and metros already makes me anxious because of unwanted stares and the fear of covert photography. Now, Meta's smart glasses add another layer of worry, as they come with built-in cameras that allow users to capture photos and record videos hands-free.

To address privacy concerns, Meta also includes an LED indicator that lights up whenever recording is active. However, do you think it's really easy for people to notice that tiny light on someone's glasses in crowded places? Most people wouldn't even realise they are being filmed.

The rise of smart glasses has recently sparked privacy debates, with several reports online showing people being recorded in public places without their consent. There are even discussions about banning smart glasses. So, let's look at what this means legally and from a privacy standpoint.

Is Recording Strangers with Meta Glasses Illegal in India?

Recording strangers using Meta smart glasses is not illegal in India, but misuse or recording in private can lead to legal consequences. Even Meta asked users to turn off the glasses in sensitive spaces such as the doctor's surgery, changing room, public toilets, school or place of worship. However, people are complaining about being recorded without their consent.

BBC has reported multiple cases raising concerns. In one such case, a woman said she was filmed by a man using smart glasses with inbuilt cameras without her knowledge or consent. The video was later posted on social media, where it received around a million views and hundreds of comments, many of them sexually explicit and derogatory.

She reportedly reported the incident to Sussex Police but was told there was nothing they could do, as filming people in public is not illegal.

How India's Data Protection Law Applies

The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 sets rules for how companies and platforms should collect and handle people's digital data. However, the law does not apply to personal recordings. So, if someone records video using smart glasses, they can claim it is for personal use, even if other people come in the footage. In such cases, the people being recorded may not have control over how that video is used.

However, the draft DPDP rules released in 2025 allow users to request access to their data, correct it, or ask platforms to delete it. But it applies only when a person has an account or user ID on that platform. So, there is no direct way to raise concerns.

Recording someone without their consent in India is illegal in private settings, as it violates the fundamental right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution. However, recording in a public place, especially when you are also part of the footage, is generally not considered illegal in the country.

Growing Privacy Concerns in Public Spaces

I agree that we might appear in the background of photos or videos in public places. But deliberate filming—especially when focused on you without your knowledge — feels invasive. In many cases, videos recorded without consent are later uploaded online for views or entertainment.

Nowadays, people often don't think twice before posting anything online. While travelling, I already have to be cautious about my surroundings, and smart glasses have now increased the fear that someone around me could be recording without my knowledge.

Meta also doesn't clearly explain how its glasses comply with Indian privacy laws. Even if you appear in a recording without being a registered user, there is no way to raise a concern or request action through the app.

Some of the world's biggest organisations have reportedly started restricting smart glasses, but banning may not be the solution. Instead, Meta could introduce privacy safeguards and stronger warnings during recording. As smart glasses become more common, new privacy rules could be key to ensuring technology doesn't come at the cost of our privacy.