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Meta could soon release Artificial Intelligence (AI) smart glasses without built-in cameras.

The smart specs, codenamed internally as Luna, are expected to be presented at the company's annual Connect developer conference on September 23-24, according to The Information. The move comes after Meta's camera-equipped Ray-Ban glasses earned the deeply unflattering moniker "pervert glasses" across social media — a label born from numerous incidents of individuals covertly filming unsuspecting people.

Each pair of the Californian firm's smart glasses ships with a built-in camera and LED light. The latter flashes when you're taking a photo and keeps blinking while recording video. It's a critical privacy safeguard, so you can't capture photos and videos of your experiences hands-free without others knowing.

But not everyone wants to be transparent that they're recording, arguing they want to be more discreet with their use during events like a fashion show or sports game. Some users have physically removed or disguised the LED altogether to avoid detection.

A few reports of bad actors using the glasses to harass young women have also surfaced. This has led to the glasses being banned across England and Wales. British cinemas have also banned them amid privacy concerns.

And now Meta appears to be addressing the problem by getting rid of the camera altogether.

In place of a camera, it's suggested that Luna will pack six built-in microphones and speakers angled towards the wearer's ears, enabling hands-free conversation with Meta's AI chatbot. Meta AI is built into almost every product from Meta, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. It can answer questions, write text, brainstorm ideas, and generate images from simple prompts.

A dedicated button on the temple of the glasses could offer instant access to Meta AI, meaning you won't need to reach for your phone.

Rumours say the device is also expected to come in two distinct styles, dubbed Clubmaster and Burbank — though notably without the Ray-Ban branding found on earlier models.

Stripping out the camera hardware could bring another benefit beyond privacy — slimmer temple arms. That means Luna could look and feel considerably closer to an ordinary pair of spectacles.

Meta has attempted to tackle the misuse through a series of software interventions. The company rolled out an update earlier in July that disables the camera if the LED recording light is interfered with.

A further update was released last month to also effectively render the glasses inoperable if someone physically tampers with the indicator light.

Alex Himel, Meta's VP of Wearables, wrote to Threads: "We have an update coming to increase the reliability of the capture LED on our AI glasses. The camera won’t start recording if the LED is blocked, but some people try to bypass this by starting a recording and then covering it up.

"A fix for this is starting to roll out - the camera will now stop working if the light is covered during a recording."

Yet these safeguards have failed to quell broader unease. According to Mr Himel, fewer than 0.1% of glasses sold were modified — though with an estimated seven million units shipped, that still amounts to several thousand devices. Meanwhile, 13 consolidated class-action lawsuits against Meta are currently proceeding through American courts.

However, removing the camera may not resolve every privacy question. The six built-in microphones could still potentially be used for covert audio capture, and the glasses' resemblance to conventional eyewear could make it difficult for others to know when a recording is underway — a concern that mirrors issues raised about the latest Apple Watch Series 12.

Beyond Luna, whispers suggest Meta could also showcase augmented reality glasses codenamed Phoenix at Connect — potentially similar to the Samsung Galaxy XR headset. Those AR spectacles, capable of projecting virtual workspaces and cinema-sized screens, are anticipated to reach shelves in 2027.