A New Orleans man who drove a truck into a crowd on New Year's Day, killing 14 people, had used Meta smart glasses for reconnaissance, according to the FBI. The suspect, identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, allegedly recorded video footage of the French Quarter using the device in October.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil stated that Jabbar's recordings, made on October 31st, show reconnaissance efforts and planning for the attack. The glasses were also reportedly worn during the attack itself, but not activated for live-streaming.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, declined to comment on the incident.
The Meta smart glasses, designed in partnership with Ray-Ban, have a built-in camera, speakers, and AI capabilities controlled via voice, buttons, and gestures. The device's functions often require internet connectivity or pairing with a smartphone.
Critically, the glasses lack a built-in display, unlike some competitors' augmented-reality models. While capable of capturing and sharing video and images on Meta platforms like Instagram and Facebook, the device also has visual indicators that signal active camera use. These indicators, in the form of LED lights, cannot be disabled. The glasses enable hands-free audio and video calls, messaging, and music playback. Further, the device allows AI to interpret visual data to provide text translation and answer simple questions. However, more complex tasks, like navigation or restaurant reservations, are not yet supported.
