Meta tests facial recognition tech from military supplier for smart glasses

Meta, the prominent social media powerhouse, is currently experimenting with a cutting-edge facial recognition technology sourced from a military contractor for its upcoming smart glasses. The tech giant has secured a license from Rank One Computing, which specializes in defense technologies, to integrate advanced capabilities such as face recognition and liveness detection. This liveness detection feature ensures that the camera is focused on an actual person rather than an image or video. Rank One Computing, a Denver-based company, primarily serves government clients, comprising about 80% of its revenue from entities like the U.S. military and various law enforcement agencies. The company is headed by a former director of the FBI's biometric database program and boasts a board that includes several ex-officials from the CIA, FBI, and Pentagon. Notably, Rank One completed its Nasdaq listing in February 2026. This collaboration marks the first confirmed partnership between Meta and Rank One Computing. Under the licensing agreement, Rank One is providing an extensive database containing up to 10 million facial templates. Reports indicate that elements of Rank One’s technology have been detected within the Meta AI application. Although the code related to this technology was not operational, there was no indication that the app was actively scanning faces or identifying individuals. Additionally, Meta has previously utilized its own facial recognition system, known as NameTag, within the Meta AI app. However, recent reports suggest that there are currently no remnants of either Rank One’s technology or the NameTag system in the application. This raises questions about Meta's future intentions, as the company navigates the regulatory landscape surrounding facial recognition technology in the United States.