As smart glasses become more common in public spaces, it is getting harder to tell when someone may be recording audio or video. A new mobile app aims to restore some awareness by alerting users when camera-equipped smart glasses are operating nearby.
The app, called Nearby Glasses, is available on Android’s Google Play Store and as an open-source project on GitHub, is designed to detect smart glasses by scanning for Bluetooth signals. It does not identify the wearer or pinpoint an exact location, but it can warn users when compatible devices are within range.
The app works by scanning Bluetooth Low Energy signals and matching them against manufacturer identifiers assigned by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group.
Many smart glasses, including Meta’s Ray-Ban models and Snap’s Spectacles, broadcast Bluetooth identifiers that reveal the manufacturer of the device. By detecting these identifiers, the app can indicate that smart glasses may be present nearby.
According to the project’s documentation, detection range varies depending on the environment. Outdoors, the app may detect devices from several dozen feet away, while in crowded indoor spaces the range is shorter.
Nearby Glasses is intended as an awareness tool rather than a guarantee of protection. The app’s developer notes it shouldn’t be seen as a complete solution to privacy risks.
Because the app relies on manufacturer Bluetooth identifiers, it can sometimes produce false positives. Devices made by the same companies, such as virtual reality headsets, may occasionally be misidentified as smart glasses. The app also cannot detect devices that are powered off or not broadcasting Bluetooth signals.
While the app is still early in its development, it reflects a growing public response to transparency and the rapid adoption of wearable technology.
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