Kenya Investigates Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses over Privacy Concerns

Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has begun investigations into Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses amid concerns they could secretly record people and misuse personal data. The probe follows pressure from digital rights groups, notably The Oversight Lab, which highlighted risks of the glasses being used to train AI systems without consent. Investigations revealed that some of the recorded content is processed in Nairobi, where local workers label sensitive and explicit footage, raising potential legal violations under Kenyan law. Public concern escalated after a viral case involving a man, widely referred to as the ‘Russian guy,’ who allegedly used the glasses to secretly record women in his apartment. Over 150 organisations and individuals in Kenya support the probe and have called for transparency and public participation. The ODPC has confirmed that investigations are ongoing and will provide updates once complete. Kenya joins other countries, including the UK and the US, in scrutinising Meta’s devices over privacy issues, signalling growing global attention on AI surveillance and personal data protection.