A Polish software developer has introduced an iPhone app capable of detecting Meta smart glasses nearby by analyzing their unique Bluetooth broadcasts, attracting 5,000 monthly users within weeks of its release.
- App matches Bluetooth ‘fingerprints’ of Meta glasses to alert users nearby
- Free with optional paid tier for background notifications
- Raises privacy awareness against covert recording by smart glasses
What happened
Pawel Szydlowski, a 30-year-old developer from Poland, created an iPhone application that scans for Bluetooth signals emitted by Meta smart glasses. After acquiring several versions of the glasses, he compiled their unique Bluetooth identifiers and designed software to recognize these signatures in real time on users’ phones.
The app, named Zuckoff, can estimate how far away the glasses are based on signal strength and alerts users when such devices are nearby. Launched for free with a paid tier for additional background notifications, it has already attracted about 5,000 active monthly users.
Why it matters
Meta’s smart glasses, sold in large numbers especially in Europe, have raised privacy concerns as bystanders often lack any way to know when they are being recorded. Traditional methods like banning the devices in venues or relying on recording indicator LEDs have proven insufficient or easy to circumvent.
Zuckoff offers a new approach by leveraging Bluetooth broadcasts, which devices send openly for connectivity purposes, to give users visibility of nearby glasses without intercepting private data. This shifts some control back to the public by increasing awareness of potential spying devices, aligning with GDPR rights but highlighting the regulatory gap still faced.
What to watch next
The sustainability of apps like Zuckoff depends on Meta’s response, which is constrained by technical and regulatory factors. Short of suppressing or randomizing Bluetooth identifiers, which would impact device pairing and usability, Meta faces challenges in balancing privacy with product functionality under European scrutiny.
Broader adoption of Bluetooth-based detection tools is expected, potentially leading to more sophisticated privacy protections. Meanwhile, the conversation around covert recording and citizen rights to know when they are filmed will likely intensify, pushing regulators and tech companies to explore more comprehensive solutions.