Meta removes face-recognition code from its smart-glasses app

Meta removed nearly all traces of an unreleased face-recognition system called NameTag from the Meta AI companion app after WIRED reported that the code had already shipped to more than 50 million phones. The disabled feature was designed to create faceprints from images captured by smart glasses, compare them with a local database, and store unrecognized faces for later use. Meta said the feature did not exist and has not explained whether the removal was planned or whether it still intends to launch face recognition. The episode matters because software can create privacy and safety risks before a feature is publicly activated, especially when wearable cameras and biometric identification are combined.

Key details: June 8, 2026, Meta NameTag, More than 50 million phones, Face recognition.

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