February 24, 2026
Who watches the watchers?
Nearby Glasses
The free app that shouts 'spy glasses nearby' and splits the internet
TLDR: Nearby Glasses is a free app that warns if smart glasses might be around, using Bluetooth signals and risking false alarms. Commenters are split: some cheer a privacy shield, others say it’s buggy or prefer anti-surveillance gear, sparking a lively debate over safety vs constant recording in public spaces.
Privacy panic meets DIY heroism: Nearby Glasses is a free, open-source app that pings you if smart glasses might be nearby. It looks at Bluetooth company codes and warns you, with possible mix-ups with VR headsets. Creator Yves Jeanrenaud, a self-taught dev, says “use with extreme caution,” no tracking and no ads. The crowd is split: some celebrate a grassroots alarm, others see bugs. One user says the Pixel 9’s “Start Scanning” button did nothing, and some want it on F-Droid, not Google Play. 404 Media amplified the buzz.
Then the debate gets philosophical. A commenter dreams of a sci‑fi honor culture where constant recording scares away bad behavior. Another swings hard the opposite direction: forget detection, bring on cloak masks that humans barely see but machines can’t. Someone wants an iOS version, and another suggests running the app on smart glasses — spy gear that tattles on other spy gear — irony.
Jokes fly about “Bluetooth bingo” in cafés and “wizardcore” anti-surveillance fashion. The mood: anxious, amused, and very online. Is this the first step in a neighborhood watch for faces, or just false alarms with extra batteries? The comments are the show, and everyone’s got a hot take.
Key Points
- •Nearby Glasses is a free, open-source app that warns users when smart glasses may be nearby.
- •The app scans BLE advertising frames and relies on Bluetooth SIG manufacturer IDs and device names for detection.
- •BLE technical constraints (randomized MACs, unstable UUIDs, proprietary services) prevent simple beacon scanning.
- •False positives and missed detections are likely; users are advised to proceed with caution and not act rashly.
- •The app collects no personal data; logs are local and contain only manufacturer ID codes, with optional user export.