Meta has removed facial recognition code from its Meta AI app following a report by Wired that revealed the non-active elements had been quietly embedded in the platform’s codebase. Although the features were not yet live, their presence signaled the company’s intent to eventually introduce face ID capabilities to its growing suite of AI-powered products, including its smart glasses.
Meta’s Angry Denial Before the Quiet Removal
Rather than acknowledging the discovery, Meta initially pushed back hard. Spokesperson Andy Stone publicly called Wired’s reporting “shoddy,” “intellectually dishonest,” and “pure advocacy-driven click bait” on X. The company only removed the code shortly after, a sequence that drew further scrutiny from observers who noted the contradiction between its public denial and subsequent action.
The development fits into a broader pattern. Earlier reports indicated that Meta had internally strategized to roll out facial recognition features for its AI glasses during periods of heightened political distraction, specifically to avoid drawing attention from civil society groups that might otherwise challenge the move.
A Company Still Haunted by Its Privacy Past
Meta’s sensitivity around facial recognition is deeply rooted in its history. In 2021, it was compelled to shut down Facebook’s face-tagging feature following widespread user backlash and regulatory scrutiny. The controversy, compounding earlier damage from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, was so severe that it contributed to the company rebranding entirely from Facebook to Meta.
Despite this history, Meta has been quietly reintroducing facial recognition in limited forms, including for account security. The latest incident suggests the company remains determined to expand this capability — but is struggling to do so without reigniting the very controversies it has spent years trying to move past.