Key facts
- Pawel Szydlowski developed an app called Zuckoff to detect nearby Meta smart glasses.
- The app detects smart glasses by analyzing their Bluetooth signals and identifying unique identifiers.
- Zuckoff has acquired 5,000 users since its launch on the App Store last month.
- A "Zuckoff Pro" version offers notifications for nearby recording smart glasses when the app is not open.
- Meta recently disabled thousands of smart glasses due to tampered recording indicator lights.
- Szydlowski suggested smart-glasses makers adopt a system similar to Apple and Google's AirTag warnings.
Pawel Szydlowski, a 30-year-old Polish software developer, created an app named "Zuckoff" that he claims can detect nearby Meta smart glasses and estimate their distance. The app functions by analyzing the Bluetooth signals broadcast by the glasses, looking for specific "fingerprints" that include unique identifiers and manufacturer information. Szydlowski stated that there is a societal need for such an application, allowing individuals to know if they are being recorded. The app has attracted 5,000 users since its launch on Apple's App Store last month. A premium "Zuckoff Pro" version offers users notifications for nearby recording smart glasses even when the app is not actively open. This development comes at a time when Meta is facing growing concerns about the privacy implications of its AI smart glasses, especially after recently disabling thousands of devices due to tampered recording indicator lights. Meta's Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, has attempted to reassure the public about the glasses' privacy features, but Szydlowski's app offers an alternative solution for detection. Szydlowski suggested that smart-glasses makers could implement a system similar to the one developed by Apple and Google for AirTags, which alerts users to nearby unknown trackers. He also mentioned that European Union regulators have contacted him for more information about his app.