NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 31— The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has confirmed it has launched an investigation into privacy concerns surrounding the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses following a request from digital rights group The Oversight Lab and growing public pressure.In a formal response to the organization, the regulator said it had already begun a suo moto investigation into the wearable device and how personal data may be processed in connection with artificial intelligence systems developed by Meta Platforms.“The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner confirms that it has already commenced suo moto investigations into the privacy concerns raised in relation to the Ray-Ban Meta glasses and the processing of personally identifiable information for the training of Meta AI,” the regulator said, adding that further updates will be communicated once the probe is completed.The Oversight Lab had written to the data protection authority on March 6 urging urgent regulatory scrutiny into the glasses, citing concerns over their potential for mass surveillance and non-consensual recording of intimate images and videos.The organization also asked the regulator to investigate the possible unlawful processing of personal data in Kenya for use in training artificial intelligence systems linked to Meta.Mercy Mutemi, Executive Director of the Oversight Lab, welcomed the regulator’s decision to launch the inquiry, calling for the process to be transparent and inclusive.“It is notable that the ODPC is taking this issue seriously and has decided to investigate it. We ask that the investigation be done openly, consultatively and in full transparency,” Mutemi said, adding that Kenyans are increasingly keen to participate in regulatory processes shaping the country’s digital future.In a show of public backing, more than 150 organizations and individuals have signed a letter urging the regulator to investigate the human rights and privacy implications associated with the smart glasses and to ensure the process remains transparent.The development places Kenya among a growing number of jurisdictions examining the technology.In the United Kingdom, the country’s data regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office, has also begun scrutiny of similar concerns, while Meta faces a lawsuit in the United States over issues linked to the device.Concerns about the glasses intensified after journalists Naipanoi Lepapa of Göteborgs-Posten and contributors to Svenska Dagbladet published an investigation alleging that footage captured globally through the wearable device was sent to a facility in Nairobi for review.According to the report, workers at Samasource Kenya EPZ Limited were tasked with reviewing and labeling video data used in AI systems, exposing them to highly sensitive recordings that included private moments such as bathroom visits, intimate interactions, financial information, and scenes involving crime and violence.The Oversight Lab also cited a recent case in Kenya involving a pickup artist who allegedly used the smart glasses to secretly record women during encounters in his apartment without their consent.Digital rights advocates say the incident highlights the broader risks posed by wearable technologies capable of discreetly recording audio and video in everyday settings.The ODPC has not indicated how long the investigation will take but said findings and further steps will be communicated once the inquiry concludes.