Code for an unreleased facial recognition feature, known as “NameTag,” is embedded in Meta’s AI app, according to a report from Wired. This feature is designed to operate on Meta’s smart glasses, although it is not currently enabled or accessible to customers.
NameTag reportedly has the capability to capture faces using the smart glasses and notify the wearer when it recognizes a previously recorded face. A security researcher confirmed that the feature does not currently send biometric data to Meta’s servers. Previous iterations of the Meta AI app included interface elements intended for NameTag, such as a “Connections” menu that encouraged users to recall people they encountered.
Anonymous sources from Meta referred to the facial recognition tool as “Name Tag,” as reported by The New York Times. A memo indicated that Meta had considered launching NameTag during what it termed a “dynamic political environment” in the U.S., believing that potential critics would be distracted by other issues. The feature may provide accessibility benefits for visually impaired users, but it raises ethical concerns regarding privacy.
Meta spokesperson Ryan Daniels shared in a statement to Engadget that the company is examining various features like NameTag but has made no final rollout decisions. “Regardless of any sensational reporting, the facts are simple: we’ve said before we’re exploring these types of features,” said Daniels. He emphasized that nothing has been released to consumers and reiterated, “we are not building a central face database.”
Previously, Meta utilized facial recognition in Facebook for photo tagging before retiring the technology in 2021 due to privacy issues. The company brought facial recognition back to Instagram and Facebook in 2024 as a tool for identifying faces used in scam advertisements. There currently is no indication that NameTag will be part of future Meta smart glasses, such as models from Ray-Ban or Oakley.
Update, June 4, 5:04 PM ET: Meta’s statement regarding Wired’s report has been added.
