A recent incident at a waxing salon has left a woman in disbelief after discovering that her service provider was wearing Meta's Ray-Ban AI glasses. Aniessa Navarro, a prominent influencer based in New York City with over 100,000 followers, took to TikTok to recount her unsettling experience during a routine Brazilian wax appointment.
Navarro, who has been a loyal customer of the European Wax Center for almost a decade, was shocked to find that her waxer was sporting the advanced AI glasses during her treatment. In her TikTok video, she shared her initial surprise and described the encounter as “haunting.” Although she declined to disclose the exact location of the European Wax Center, she emphasized her long-standing relationship with the brand. “I've been going to European Wax Center for years, maybe eight or nine years at this point,” she stated.
During her appointment, Navarro engaged in friendly banter with the waxer, so she didn’t immediately notice the glasses. It wasn't until about five minutes into the session that she realized, “Are you wearing Meta glasses?” The waxer confirmed her suspicions, stating, “Oh, yeah, I am, but they're not charged, they're not on, like, I promise.”
Meta's AI glasses are equipped with a built-in camera that allows users to capture photos and videos effortlessly. Additionally, these glasses feature a Bluetooth speaker, enabling users to make calls and send texts through voice commands. Despite the waxer's assurances that the glasses were off, Navarro couldn’t shake off her unease throughout the procedure. “I could not stop thinking, like, Could this girl be recording me?” she recalled, expressing her discomfort with the situation.
Navarro became increasingly distressed after the appointment, worrying about the implications of being recorded without her consent. “What if she has that video and what if there’s been multiple videos she’s taken of waxing people?” she pondered. The influencer shared that the thought of potential recordings had been “making her sick” for weeks.
In her follow-up video, Navarro revealed that she had contacted the European Wax Center via email and received what she considered a “generic” response. A representative from the center later claimed to The Washington Post that the waxer's glasses were “powered off at the time of service.”
Despite her concerns, Navarro stated that she did not want to jeopardize anyone's employment over the incident. However, she expressed a desire for stricter regulations regarding the use of such devices in private settings. “I hope in regard to me speaking out about this is that these glasses get banned from a room like that,” she said.
The TikTok community largely supported Navarro, with many commenters echoing her concerns about privacy. One user noted, “If she can afford prescription Meta glasses, she can afford one pair of cheap regular prescription glasses for her job.” Others highlighted the risks of surveillance, pointing out that even if the camera wasn’t actively on, it could be hacked. “Personally, I don’t think any cameras or recording devices should be allowed in areas like that,” another commenter stated.
This incident raises significant questions about privacy in personal care settings and the implications of wearable technology. As the conversation around surveillance and consent continues, it’s clear that the community is concerned about the presence of recording devices in intimate spaces.
