SPECS AR glasses are a new kind of computer built into augmented reality glasses. At Snap, we have always believed trust is earned by designing with privacy in mind and giving people control over their information. We brought that same approach to SPECS AR glasses, with privacy for both the people wearing them and the people around them built in from the beginning.

SPECS look different because they are different.

SPECS AR glasses are intentionally recognizable as augmented reality glasses. Their distinctive design and iridescent lenses reflect what they are: a fully wearable computer built to bring digital information and experiences into the world around you. SPECS AR glasses include cameras to enable augmented reality functionality and understand the world without recording it.

SPECS AR glasses can be used for watching videos, navigating, playing games, reading messages, translating foreign languages, and interacting with digital content in the world around them.

SPECS AR glasses do not use facial recognition to identify people.

Cameras and sensors process what SPECS AR glasses see in real time to understand things like where surfaces, objects, and hands are. For basic spatial understanding, that processing does not create or save a photo or video. SPECS AR glasses do not continuously record or save audio, video, or photos.

When a user decides to capture a moment with SPECS AR glasses it’s clear and obvious.

When someone takes a photo or records video or audio, a prominent external LED in the center of the frames lights up or flashes so people nearby can see that recording is happening. The wearer also hears a sound.

For SPECS, privacy is built around four principles.

1. YOU STAY IN CONTROL
   
   You choose what information and services SPECS AR glasses can access.
   
   You can change permissions and connected services at any time. Privacy is not a one-time setup decision. You also control photos and recordings captured with SPECS AR glasses. You can choose whether to store them in Snap’s cloud, and delete them at any time.
   
   

2. PRIVACY STARTS WITH PERMISSION
   
   Lenses ask before accessing sensitive information.
   
   Lenses cannot access your raw microphone or camera or  precise location, without permission. SPECS AR glasses are designed to give Lenses access only to what they need, rather than making everything available by default.
   
   

3. PRIVACY IS VISIBLE AND UNDERSTANDABLE
   
   When SPECS AR glasses record, they make it visible.
   
   When you take a photo or record video or audio, the external LED signals recording to people nearby and you hear a shutter sound.
   
   

4. DATA IS PROTECTED BY DESIGN
   
   We designed SPECS AR glasses to use the information an experience needs while limiting unnecessary collection and sharing.
   
   SPECS AR glasses use separate processors: one helps understand the world around you, while another runs experiences. Experiences use that understanding without automatically getting raw camera and sensor data. If they need direct access, they have to ask you first.
   
   When cloud processing is needed, we send only what is necessary and encrypt your data in transit and at rest.

SPECS Intelligence is a personal intelligence service from Snap that works across iPhone, Mac, and SPECS AR glasses.

You choose what you connect and what information SPECS Intelligence can use.

SPECS Intelligence is designed so Snap personnel cannot view or access the personal content you use with the service. 

We do not use personal content from connected accounts to train or fine-tune Snap’s AI models or to serve you personalized ads.

SPECS Intelligence uses on-device processing and secure cloud infrastructure, with security protections wherever data is processed.

SPECS AR glasses are a platform for experiences built by Snap and developers around the world. We want to empower developers to create incredible new experiences, but that creativity should never come at the expense of people's privacy or safety.

Developers do not get unrestricted access to SPECS AR glasses or the information SPECS AR glasses use to understand the world. If a Lens needs sensitive access, it has to ask. Developers must follow SPECS policies. Every Lens is moderated before publication, and we take enforcement action against Lenses that violate our policies.

We believe useful computing and meaningful privacy protections should reinforce one another.

SPECS AR glasses understand what's around you without continuously recording. You stay in control of your information.