Engadget outlines four Ray-Ban Meta privacy settings to curb data collection

Engadget describes the controls as optional ways to cut data collection at the cost of some convenience. It separates gallery photos and videos from images processed by Meta AI, saying the two follow different rules.

The first setting concerns voice activation. The report says users can turn off 'Hey Meta' to avoid accidental activations when ordinary conversation sounds like the wake phrase. In the United States, users can no longer prevent Meta from storing recordings of their AI voice interactions in the cloud, according to the report; they can manually delete saved recordings. The toggle is under Meta AI > 'Hey Meta' preferences in the Meta AI app. The touchpad on the right temple can still call the assistant, and the microphones remain available for calls and videos. Previous voice interactions can be seen or deleted under Glasses privacy > Voice activity log.

The second setting is Cloud media. Photos and videos captured for the gallery normally stay on the glasses until imported to a phone, but when Cloud media is enabled, Meta can keep copies on its servers for up to 30 days, the report says. Users can turn it off under Glasses privacy > Cloud media. They can still take photos, record videos and import them to a phone, but they lose cloud-based features such as voice-controlled photo sharing and autocapture. Meta says ordinary gallery captures are not used to train its AI models or serve ads regardless of this setting. Disabling Cloud media does not prevent images from being sent to Meta when a user asks the assistant a visual question. Phone backup options also matter: iCloud or Google Photos automatic backup may still upload imported photos to the cloud.

The third setting covers additional usage data. Engadget says Meta distinguishes data it needs to operate the device from optional 'additional data,' such as usage analytics on which features people use and how often. The sharing can be turned off under Glasses privacy > Share additional data. Doing so does not change how users engage with photos, calls or music, but it does not shut off all data collection. Meta continues to collect data it says it needs to run and ensure the safety of the glasses, and voice commands and AI requests via the camera are governed by separate guidelines. Turning off additional data sharing also does not delete information Meta has already collected.

The fourth setting concerns AI training on visual data. In September 2026, Meta introduced an option to stop visual data from smart glasses interactions from being used for AI training, according to the report. Visual data is sent to Meta's servers to generate an answer when a user asks the assistant to identify a plant or translate a menu. Previously, that information could be stored for AI training, including review by human contractors. The option is separate from photos and videos saved to the gallery, so turning off Cloud media does not change how Meta processes visual AI requests. To opt out, users open the glasses' settings in the Meta AI app, select Meta AI and disable Store visual data from AI experiences; the glasses must be out of the case and connected to the phone. Meta says it still processes images to answer queries but will not keep the data for AI training or make it available to human reviewers for product improvement after the opt-out.

Engadget says each choice involves trade-offs: disabling 'Hey Meta' removes hands-free wake activation, turning off Cloud media removes voice-controlled photo sharing and autocapture, and opting out of visual-data storage still requires images to be processed for answers.

Editor's Summary

Engadget reported that Ray-Ban Meta users can change four settings to limit voice recordings, cloud media storage, optional usage-data sharing and AI training on visual data. Some changes reduce convenience, and disabling Cloud media does not stop images from being sent for visual AI queries. Meta says it still processes data needed to operate the glasses and answer requests.