Kenya'sOversight Labs seeks ODPC probe into Meta's smart glasses data use

Kenya's Oversight Labs has formally requested the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) to investigate whether footage captured by Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses is being used unlawfully to train artificial intelligence systems. The group alleges contract workers in Nairobi review images and videos recorded by the glasses to help train Meta's AI tools, potentially without proper consent. According to a formal complaint seen by TechCabal, the ODPC must examine whether people recorded by the glasses consented to their images and conversations being processed under Kenya's Data Protection Act. The complaint also questions whether the devices enable covert recording in public or private spaces. This regulatory pressure follows reports that Kenyan workers employed by outsourcing firm Sama review footage captured by the glasses worldwide to classify objects and scenes for Meta's AI models. The Oversight Lab expressed concern about workers encountering highly sensitive material, including bathroom visits and explicit content. The investigation could place Kenya's role in the global AI supply chain under scrutiny, as thousands of contract workers in Nairobi label images and videos for major tech companies. The group asked the regulator to complete its investigation within 90 days and determine whether companies complied with Kenyan law.

SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/03/06/kenyan-watchdog-asks-regulator-to-probe-meta-ai-glasses/