Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is set to integrate facial recognition technology into its smart glasses, produced in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, the owner of Ray-Ban and Oakley. This development follows a previous decision made five years ago when Facebook discontinued its facial recognition system for tagging people in photos, acknowledging the need to find a balance regarding privacy and legal implications associated with such technology.

The new feature, internally referred to as "Name Tag," is intended to enable users to recognize individuals and access information about them through Meta's artificial intelligence assistant. The functionality could potentially be introduced later this year, showcasing a significant shift in Meta's approach toward facial recognition after years of cautious handling of privacy concerns. Early reports suggest that the Name Tag feature was originally planned to debut at a conference for people with disabilities.

The decision to incorporate this technology into consumer products like smart glasses highlights the ongoing debate around privacy in the digital age and the ethical implications of using AI in daily life. As Meta moves forward with this initiative, it could face backlash from privacy advocates and regulators who are increasingly scrutinizing the impact of emerging technologies on individual privacy rights.