Everyone Hates Elon Posts Fake Meta Glasses Ads at London Bus Stops to Criticize Privacy Issues

Amid rising criticism of Meta’s smart glasses, activist group “Everyone Hates Elon” has occupied two bus stops in London, putting up fake advertisements targeting the product. As reported by Karissa Bell of Engadget on July 16, one of these ads cleverly uses optical tricks reminiscent of the 1988 sci-fi film “They Live” to issue a warning about surveillance society.

Clever Optical Tricks

At first glance, the “ad” appears to be a genuine advertisement featuring Kylie Jenner wearing the smart glasses. However, when viewed from a different angle, the image shifts to grayscale, and Jenner’s face transforms into an eerie skull-like visage. The text also changes from “Meta AI Glasses” to “Meta: We’re Always Watching You.”

This design mimics the premise of “They Live,” where the protagonist uses special sunglasses to reveal hidden control messages in advertisements and billboards. Hyperallergic pointed out the homage to the film’s theme, which depicted a world under covert surveillance and control.

Protest Ads with Bold Statements

Earlier this month, the same group launched another fake ad campaign in London, which was even more direct. The ad depicted the glasses under the provocative tagline, “The biggest advancement in pervert technology since the trench coat,” alongside the message, “Hey Meta, start recording.” Both ads were orchestrated by Everyone Hates Elon, a group known for its guerrilla campaigns targeting Elon Musk and other tech oligarchs. Notably, the group previously displayed a series of posters in the New York subway criticizing Jeff Bezos for his involvement in the Met Gala.

Concerns Over Constant Recording and Surveillance

In an Instagram post, the group argued, “Just because you can make glasses that record people without their consent and use the footage to train robots doesn’t mean you should.” They also referenced Meta’s plans for new glasses, as reported by the Financial Times. These plans allegedly include always-on voice recording and photo-taking every few seconds, raising significant privacy concerns.

Meta’s Response

As of the time of writing, Meta has not responded to requests for comment. However, the company recently announced a feature that disables the camera when the recording LED is physically tampered with. “We continue to explore safer and more reliable methods,” the company stated.

The Privacy-Tech Dilemma

Since their launch in 2023, Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses have gained traction due to their photo and video capabilities, as well as their AI assistant functions. However, their design makes it difficult for others to determine if they are being recorded, posing a significant risk to privacy in public spaces.

This recent protest by activists has highlighted the gap between technological innovation and societal acceptance. It raises questions about how tech companies address privacy concerns and how society adapts to the presence of surveillance technologies in public spaces.

Editorial Opinion

In the short term, this protest may accelerate Meta’s efforts to enhance privacy protections for its smart glasses. The implementation of features like tamper detection for recording LEDs is a first step, but the focus will likely shift to how the company addresses the potential for misuse beyond the wearer’s intent. This issue could become a focal point over the next three to six months, particularly if reports of always-on recording capabilities, as suggested by the Financial Times, turn out to be accurate. Such developments could also prompt regulatory scrutiny under frameworks like Europe’s GDPR or Japan’s Personal Information Protection Law.

From a long-term perspective, the growing ubiquity of wearable camera technology poses fundamental questions for the industry. How should the concept of consent in public spaces be defined and regulated? The tactics employed by activist groups like Everyone Hates Elon are not just forms of protest; they also act as a barometer for public tolerance of surveillance technology. These movements could inspire similar campaigns in other regions and potentially influence the design and development of tech products. As an editorial stance, we believe that balancing individual privacy with technological innovation will become one of the most critical challenges for businesses in the coming years.

References

• “Activist group takes over London bus stops with fake Meta Glasses ads”, by [email protected] (Karissa Bell) — Engadget, 2026-07-16T22:41:27.000Z (ARR)
• Source URL: https://www.engadget.com/2217151/activist-group-takes-over-london-bus-stops-with-fake-meta-glasses-ads/