England and Wales courts ban Meta smart glasses inside buildings
HM Courts & Tribunals Service will remove and return Meta smart glasses at entry and exit, citing restrictions on photography and video in courts.
Courts across England and Wales have moved to prohibit the wearing of Meta's smart glasses inside their buildings, joining a growing list of public venues that have barred the devices over privacy concerns.
The HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) announced that anyone attempting to enter a court or tribunal building while wearing the spectacles will have them removed on entry; the devices will be returned when the person leaves the premises. The decision applies to criminal, civil and family courts across England and Wales.
Official rationale and legal limits
“There are clear restrictions on taking photographs and recording video in courts and tribunals, which is why the use of Meta's glasses is prohibited,” a spokesperson said. The move reflects the fact that the glasses are capable of recording video while being worn.
Photographing or filming inside court buildings without formal permission is already banned in the UK and can be treated as contempt of court, the service noted as part of its explanation for the ban.
The decision follows a similar announcement by courts in New York, which implemented restrictions on the controversial head-worn cameras about a month earlier. The measures reflect rising sales of Meta's smart glasses alongside intensifying public concern over potential invasions of privacy.
Privacy advocates and venue operators have argued the devices can operate like surveillance tools, and a number of restaurants, theatres and pubs in the UK had already prohibited their use before the courts took the step.
Photo: Инстаграм/raybanmeta
