EssilorLuxottica's smart glasses boom runs into tougher regulatory scrutiny
META•EssilorLuxottica's Meta eyewear accounted for 81.3% of global AI-enabled glasses shipments in the first half, as regulators and governments weigh privacy measures and restrictions. Global shipments reached 8.4 million units in 2025, up from around 2.1 million in 2024.
1. Rapid market growth
Global shipments of AI-enabled glasses rose to 8.4 million units in 2025 from around 2.1 million in 2024, Omdia data showed. EssilorLuxottica's Meta eyewear accounted for 81.3% of global shipments in the first half. The company said smart glasses sales nearly doubled year over year in its second-quarter trading update.
2. Regulators weigh restrictions
The European Data Protection Board urged manufacturers to consider visible recording lights, sound alerts and notifications to nearby devices, and suggested limiting livestreaming, blurring bystanders' faces and location-based restrictions in sensitive settings. Norway plans a temporary ban in selected locations, while Australia is considering restrictions in government workplaces.
3. Privacy concerns persist
Investors are watching for an indication of smart glasses sales when EssilorLuxottica reports third-quarter results. The company and Meta face privacy concerns as they promote the glasses, which can record and livestream, as a potential future alternative to smartphones. Data regulators in Italy and Austria said they were investigating incidents involving pupils using smart glasses in schools.
