Meta AI Glasses: What are they and why is not authorized in uniform Story by Mr. Dana Thayer, 104th Fighter Wing Information Protection Chief
BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Westfield, MA-The rapid growth of consumer wearable technology brings amazing convenience, but it also introduces serious security concerns, especially, on military installations. Meta AI glasses, which combine cameras, microphones, and cloud-connected artificial intelligence, present risks that are incompatible with the operational security (OPSEC) requirements of military environments.
Constant audio and video capture are a core feature of AI-enabled glasses. Even when a user believes recording is inactive, the presence of always-on sensors creates the possibility of inadvertent data collection. I’m sure most of you have had a conversation regarding a product and then started seeing that product show up while scrolling through social media. This is not a coincidence! Here at Barnes, sensitive conversations, access control procedures, layouts of facilities, or other controlled- unclassified information (CUI) could be inadvertently recorded. Such information, if stored or transmitted in unauthorized environments, could be exploited by adversaries.
Meta AI glasses rely heavily on cloud processing. Data captured by the device is transmitted to external servers for analysis, storage, or improvement of AI models. Unlike our Microsoft 365 Cloud Service operating on government owned devices, personal electronic devices are not authorized for the transmission or storage of CUI.
We already ban most personal electronic devices from secure areas, however, as technology progresses, so should our security policies. Colonel Michael Glass, 104th Fighter Wing Commander, has directed the ban on AI glasses to be extended to include our civilian force as well as military members not in uniform.
In short, while Meta AI glasses may be suitable for civilian use, their recording capabilities, cloud dependence, and potential for unintended data exposure make them inappropriate for military installations. Protecting mission integrity and national security requires clear boundaries—and wearable AI devices cross them. For questions regarding the use of personal electronic devices to include medical devices, please see your Unit Security Assistant.
Reference: DAFI 36-2903, 7.3.2