Janet Mbugua explains how video-recording sunglasses are being exploited
By Paulette Mboga, March 11, 2026Media personality Janet Mbugua has raised concerns over smart glasses, warning that while the technology has benefits, it can also be exploited.
She highlighted situations where people might not even know they are being recorded in a post on Instagram on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
“Picture this: lunch with someone. A date. Sitting next to someone on a matatu… Would you know if you were being recorded?” she asks.
Mbugua points out that some smart glasses look like normal sunglasses but can also record video, raising serious privacy concerns.
She explains that while many people know the glasses can record, there are parts of their use that are less understood. According to Mbugua, this includes the handling of video footage that ends up in AI training systems.
Workers in Nairobi face disturbing content
Reports indicate that workers in Nairobi have been exposed to extremely disturbing footage while reviewing videos used to train AI. For some, the work invades privacy; for others, it causes trauma. Mbugua says this is not a condemnation of the technology itself.
“This isn’t a broad condemnation for a tool that has its benefits, but we need to pay attention to how it’s being exploited!” she says.
She explained that while smart glasses offer useful functions, misuse and exploitation can have real consequences for everyday people.
To address these concerns, according to Janet Mbugua, a petition is calling for an investigation into the use of smart glasses in AI training and is now live. Mbugua has publicly supported the petition, urging others to join the effort and raise awareness.
“I support it… please have a look and lend your voice to this growing concern,” she says.
Mbugua stresses that public attention is crucial to ensure that technology is used responsibly and does not harm individuals.
She also warns that the issue goes beyond privacy, touching on ethics and accountability in how new tools are deployed. Mbugua believes that careful oversight can allow the benefits of smart glasses to be enjoyed while protecting people from potential exploitation.
The concerns she raises show a growing conversation about technology, privacy, and the human cost of AI development. According to Mbugua, society must balance innovation with safety, ensuring that people’s rights are not compromised in the name of progress.