The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) sent a legal notice to Meta Platforms on August 24, 2026, challenging the company over covert recording by its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. The notice, filed on behalf of a man identified as Mr. X, demands Rs 2.05 crore in damages and calls for takedown, disclosure, apology, and evidence preservation. The incident occurred on July 24, 2026, at a café in Delhi’s Khan Market, where Mr. X was recorded without his consent during a harassment episode.
Advocate Apar Gupta, representing the complainant, argues that Meta can be held liable for negligence separate from its role as a platform hosting the resulting video. The notice claims that Meta owed a duty of care to Mr. X, who was unaware that the Ray-Ban Meta glasses were recording the encounter covertly. Meta has sold these glasses in India since May 2025, with prices starting at Rs 29,990. The legal notice challenges the safe harbour protections under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which currently shield intermediaries from liability.
The case tests Indian privacy law, which currently offers limited protection to individuals recorded in public without consent. No Indian court has ruled on holding device manufacturers liable for covert recordings. The notice argues that the existing legal framework does not adequately address the responsibilities of companies producing recording devices like smart glasses. This challenge could set a precedent for how privacy and liability are interpreted in the context of emerging wearable technologies in India.
The legal notice demands Rs 2.05 crore in damages and seeks a formal apology from Meta. It also calls for the takedown of the video, disclosure of relevant information, and preservation of evidence related to the incident. The case marks a significant moment in Indian digital privacy law, with the next steps dependent on judicial response to this novel claim.