Meta AI glasses are getting more popular, but a new privacy tool is making people look twice. Zuckoff can spot nearby supported smart glasses through Bluetooth signals. It cannot tell who is recording. Still, it raises a fresh question about privacy in public.
Zuckoff shows the privacy problems in Meta AI glasses
As reported by YourStory, Zuckoff was created by Polish developer Pawel Szydlowski after he saw videos of people being recorded by smart glasses without clearly knowing they were being filmed. The app scans Bluetooth signals linked to camera glasses and warns users when one may be close. The tool can detect products linked to Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta and Snap Spectacles. It then gives a rough idea of distance. The alert may say the glasses are very close, in the same room, nearby or far away.
But there is a key limit. Zuckoff cannot tell exactly where the glasses are. It also cannot prove that the camera is recording. A Bluetooth signal only shows that a supported device may be close. That detail is important. A warning does not mean someone is filming you. No warning does not mean there are no camera glasses nearby.
Why Meta AI glasses are facing more privacy pressure
Zuckoff has already gained around 5,000 users since launching on the Apple App Store. The app also has a Pro version with background alerts. The developer built it to give people more awareness at a time when smart glasses are facing growing concern over hidden recording. The issue comes from how these glasses look. They can appear much like normal eyewear while also carrying cameras, speakers and AI tools. Meta says a white light on the front flashes when photos or videos are being captured.
The privacy debate became stronger after people found ways to cover or tamper with that light. The company later changed its software so the camera stops working if the light is covered during recording. Even so, privacy concerns have not gone away. The problem is simple. When someone points a phone at you, you can often see it. Smart glasses are much harder to notice at a glance. That has led some schools, restaurants, courts and other public places to limit or ban smart glasses.
Zuckoff may help, but it is not a perfect answer
Apps like Zuckoff use Bluetooth signals to give people a better idea of what devices may be around them. This could be useful in places where people are concerned about being recorded without their knowledge. Still, the app has clear limits. Smart glasses may not always be easy to detect. Their signals can change after they connect to a phone. So users cannot treat the app as a guarantee of safety.
The bigger issue may be the growing gap between technology and social rules. Smart glasses make hands-free recording easier, but they also make consent harder to judge. For Meta, the challenge is now bigger than the glasses themselves. People also want to feel safe around them. Zuckoff may not solve the problem, but it shows how demand for privacy tools is growing alongside AI wearables.
Author’s Opinion
Zuckoff is not a perfect shield, but its rise says something important. People want to know when cameras may be around them. As smart glasses become normal, better privacy rules and clearer signals may matter as much as the business and the technology.
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