A new Android app called Nearby Glasses detects nearby camera-enabled smart glasses by scanning for Bluetooth Low Energy advertising frames and comparing them to known manufacturers such as Meta, Luxottica, and Snap.

The developer says the project is a form of resistance to pervasive surveillance, driven by concerns about non-consensual filming and the potential abuse of wearable glasses.

Created by Yves Jeanrenaud, the app aims to raise awareness of covert recording and to warn users when potential glasses are nearby.

Privacy and legal questions are discussed, including the general legality of recording in public but potential risks under privacy laws, biometric data rules, and state wiretapping laws in the United States.

Experts acknowledge limitations such as imperfect detection, inability to identify who is being recorded, and the risk of giving a false sense of safety, while seeing it as a practical step in a broader privacy conversation.

The discussion includes real-world contexts where surveillance could have consequences, including vulnerable workplaces, immigration actions, protests, and public spaces where people expect not to be recorded.

Contexts that matter for the app include workplaces with vulnerabilities, law enforcement or immigration actions, protests, political gatherings, and any public setting where recording or profiling is a concern.

The approach is framed as a form of resistance to ubiquitous surveillance technology, not a foolproof solution, but a countermeasure for researchers and advocates in digital privacy.

Limitations include possible false positives, a limited range, and the detection not being foolproof, reflecting ongoing debates about wearable tech privacy.

The app is available on Google Play Store and GitHub, with an iOS version in development, and it is described as a social tech solution rather than a guaranteed safeguard against surveillance.

Users are warned not to misuse the app for surveillance or harassment, noting real-world confrontations related to covert recording.

Users are cautioned about potential false positives from devices made by the same manufacturer and to avoid harassing people who might simply be wearing ordinary glasses.