r/Futurology • u/lughnasadh • 23h ago
Society Meta has banned an Irish Instagram account because the user's videos' made with Meta’s Smart Glasses violate its "bullying and harassment policies".
The former MTU student frequently films interviews and videos that he calls "pranks" across Cork and elsewhere in Ireland, with many of those featured in his content unaware that they are being filmed. The Irish Data Protection Commission has previously expressed concern about the misuse of smart glasses. A spokesperson for Meta said: “We don't tolerate harassing content, however it was captured, and have removed the account @rendy_vlad for repeatedly violating our bullying and harassment policies.
Filming people without their consent and publishing it is illegal in many parts of the world. It's why you sometimes see people blurred out on TV. It means the production people didn't get them to sign a model consent form.
But doesn't all Smart Glasses use fall into that category? You could say the same about phone cameras, but at least then, people recording can make the excuse that everyone could clearly see what they are doing.
The other murky area here is monetization. In most parts of the world people automatically own the copyright to their own image. If Big Tech wants to argue they can ignore copyright law, why do they get to be the ones who can ignore the law when they choose?
Instagram removes account of Cork-based influencer 'Rendy Vlad'