Meta keeps camera glasses on market, Offlimits goes to court
The foundation says it is preparing summary proceedings after Meta refused to remove the AI glasses from Dutch shops.
Follow-up to: Privacy groups announce urgent court action over Meta glasses Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 08:28
Listen to this article
There is no audio version yet. Request one and an AI voice will read the article aloud.
Read by an AI voice.
Meta intends to keep its camera glasses on the Dutch market despite privacy criticism. Stichting Offlimits is therefore announcing legal action together with The Firewall to halt sales.
Offlimits has announced that it is preparing summary proceedings against Meta. The foundation and The Firewall had previously demanded that the company remove the Meta glasses from Dutch shops and consult them about changes. According to Offlimits, Meta allowed the deadline to pass without meeting the demands.
The new step follows the formal demand sent by both organisations at the end of September. The Consumentenbond has also separately given Meta a deadline to adjust the glasses and their default settings. The consumer organisation previously announced that it would go to court if no solution was found.
Meta executive Alex Himel, who is responsible for the glasses division, said according to NL Times that the company sees no reason to withdraw the camera glasses from sale. Meta points to the light on the front, which is intended to indicate when the camera is recording, and says that the camera is disabled if the light is covered or tampered with.
Offlimits considers that security measure insufficient. The organisation says the glasses make it easier to film people without their knowledge and that footage could subsequently end up in Meta's systems. The foundation supports people affected by sexually transgressive behaviour online.
The Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens previously warned that identifiable people recorded with camera glasses are also covered by privacy rules. Publishing or sharing such footage may be unlawful without a valid legal basis or consent. That warning is not a general sales ban and does not constitute a court ruling on Meta's product.
According to Offlimits, the summary proceedings should quickly clarify whether Meta may continue selling the glasses and under what conditions. A hearing date has not yet been set. Until then, the glasses remain legally available for purchase, although some Dutch shops have already stopped selling them.
The case therefore concerns two separate questions: whether users misuse the glasses and whether Meta has built in sufficient safeguards. The court will have to assess those questions on the basis of privacy law, product responsibility and how the glasses work in practice.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Offlimits and The Firewall have demanded that Meta remove the camera glasses from sale.
- Meta has not agreed to that demand and is keeping the glasses on the market.
- Offlimits has announced legal action and summary proceedings.
- The Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens warns that identifiable people are covered by privacy rules even when recorded with camera glasses.
- A court has not yet issued a ruling.
Left
Arguments The privacy of bystanders should outweigh the commercial interests of a product that makes covert filming easier. Meta should stop sales until consent, storage and clear warnings for identifiable people have been technically arranged.
Values Privacy, protection of vulnerable groups, digital fundamental rights and a balance of power in relation to large technology companies.
Consequences A ban or strict product requirements could better protect victims, but could also set a precedent whereby new technology is removed from the market before a definitive legal assessment.
Centre
Arguments The court must distinguish between the product itself and misuse by users. Clear rules, visible recording indicators, data minimisation and enforcement could potentially offer more certainty than an immediate total ban.
Values Proportionality, legal certainty, enforceability and protection of both citizens and innovation.
Consequences A judicial review could clarify which technical and organisational safeguards are required of Meta, but proceedings could prolong uncertainty for consumers and shops.
Right
Arguments A camera in a pair of glasses is not unlawful in itself; misuse should be addressed by targeting the user. Meta points to a visible light and automatic deactivation if it is tampered with, while a ban restricts innovation and freedom of choice.
Values Individual responsibility, freedom of enterprise, technological progress and restraint in government intervention.
Consequences The product could remain available for legitimate applications, but opponents fear that victims in practice have insufficient means to prevent covert recordings or have them removed.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The formal announcement of legal action, Meta's refusal and the technical explanation of the indicator light have been confirmed by public sources. The text makes clear that the summary proceedings have not yet resulted in a ruling or sales ban.
- confirmed Offlimits and The Firewall are preparing legal action against Meta. — NL Times and Offlimits report the announced formal demand and the intended summary proceedings. source
- confirmed Meta wants to keep the camera glasses on the market in the Netherlands. — NL Times reports that Meta sees no reason to withdraw the glasses. source
- confirmed Meta says that the light indicates when the camera is recording. — Meta's statement is described by NL Times. source
- confirmed The Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens warned about privacy risks associated with camera glasses. — The AP warns that identifiable people are covered by privacy rules. source
- confirmed There has not yet been a court ruling or a set hearing date. — Current reporting refers to preparations for summary proceedings and an urgent hearing that is yet to be scheduled. source
Editor's note
It is certain that Offlimits has announced legal action and that Meta is not voluntarily withdrawing the glasses from sale. There has not yet been a court ruling, nor has a hearing date been set.Sources
- Dutch organization preparing lawsuit after Meta refuses to stop selling AI glasses — NL Times
- Offlimits en The Firewall sommeren Meta om omstreden Meta-bril uit de schappen te halen — Offlimits
- AP waarschuwt gebruikers camerabrillen dat filmen van anderen vrijwel altijd verboden is — Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens
- Hey Meta: stop met die camerabril — Consumentenbond
The story so far
- Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 05:28 Meta keeps camera glasses on the market
- Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 08:28 Privacy groups announce urgent court action over Meta glasses
- Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 12:01 Meta keeps camera glasses on market, Offlimits goes to court (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „meta camerabril”
- FD — „meta camerabril”
- Trouw — „meta camerabril”