While the Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses have dominated headlines ahead of Samsung and Google’s first pairs arriving later this year, the Chinese police use a pair of smartglasses made specially for them.
The internet-connected specs have a camera, and although not stated in the report, likely a screen in the lenses too, plus a battery which returns enough energy for the average patrol.
It’s claimed the glasses can recognize objects, signs, and license plates on vehicles, plus they can also recognize voices. The report, published in China Daily, which is a government-run publication, does not state that the smart glasses use facial recognition.
However, an example of how the smartglasses have been used suggests otherwise. One officer says he found an elderly man who was lost, but could not speak clearly. The smartglasses identified him, and his family was contracted.
The smart glasses are being used for traffic management too, where the camera recognizes vehicle license plates and can allow authorized vehicles into restricted areas, such as around schools. Parents must pre-register their vehicles with special security systems first though.
A different kind of privacy concern
China’s use of cameras and other surveillance technology, including facial recognition, is well-documented, and a study published at the end of 2025 highlighted how AI is being used to enhance it.
This new report gives insight into how the technology is being used in the real world, and it coincides with the World Intelligence Expo 2026 event in Tianjin which focuses on AI. It also comes after Meta saw significant backlash against its push into facial recognition recently.
Meta is already working with the US military to develop augmented reality glasses for military personnel, and the Department of Homeland Security has reportedly submitted a request for funding to develop its own smartglasses for its agents.
Consumer-level smartglasses are often in the news due to irresponsible users invading people’s privacy, and these negative reports are gradually catching the attention of governments around the world, with calls to increase regulation growing.
Used responsibly, smart glasses like the Ray-Ban Meta are a fun, and sometimes very useful extension of a smartphone.
