the Meta glasses the New Orleans attacker used to scout the French Quarter

The Meta smart glasses, created in collaboration with Ray-Ban, were used by Shamsud-Din Jabbar to scout New Orleans’ French Quarter before a deadly truck attack on New Year’s Day that killed 14 people. According to the FBI, Jabbar recorded video using the glasses during a reconnaissance trip on October 31, but he did not activate them during the attack itself. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has declined to comment on the incident.

Meta glasses feature a built-in camera, speakers, and artificial intelligence, enabling users to capture photos and videos, livestream to Meta’s platforms, and interact with an AI assistant for tasks like translating text or answering location-based questions. However, the glasses lack augmented reality displays and advanced features like navigation or restaurant reservations.

To address privacy concerns, the device includes an LED light that indicates when the camera is in use, a feature that cannot be disabled. While designed for convenience and innovation, the glasses’ use in this tragedy has sparked questions about their potential for misuse and the ethical implications of such technology.

Source: AP News