Meta glasses banned from courts in England and Wales

Lead

Courts in England and Wales have banned Meta's smartglasses, joining a growing number of venues — from restaurants and theatres to pub chains — in restricting the devices over privacy concerns. The glasses, which resemble normal eyewear and contain tiny embedded cameras, have been confiscated from anyone entering judicial buildings, according to His Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service (CTS), which oversees criminal, civil, and family courts in the region.

The move follows a ban announced last month by courts in New York on the controversial glasses, which can record video footage while being worn. The CTS has made clear that Meta glasses will be confiscated on entry and returned when the owner leaves the building.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the ban has focused on the devices' ability to record video without the knowledge of those around them, and on the response from institutions seeking to protect privacy. The Guardian, which has covered the story across multiple articles, has highlighted both the commercial ambitions of the glasses — promoted by celebrities such as Kylie Jenner — and the growing unease that has led to them being labelled "spy glasses" and "pervert glasses" in some quarters.

While the reports share a common narrative about the devices' privacy implications, they differ slightly in emphasis. One report centres on the bans in UK venues, quoting restaurateurs and pub executives, while another focuses on the judicial restrictions, including a reported incident in the high court. Both use similar language, describing the glasses as "spyware" or "spy glasses," and both attribute concerns to the potential for surreptitious recording.

Key Claims

• Meta's smartglasses have been banned in courts in England and Wales, with the CTS confirming that use of the glasses is prohibited in its buildings. A spokesperson told the Guardian: "There are clear restrictions on taking images or videos within courts and tribunals which is why the use of Meta glasses is prohibited." Taking images or videos in court buildings is prohibited in the UK without official permission and can be prosecuted as contempt of court.
• Courts in New York have also banned the glasses, according to reports from last month.
• The glasses, which cost £359, have tiny cameras embedded, and Meta has marketed them as allowing users to stay "in the moment" without constantly looking down at a smartphone.
• There have been instances of people being videoed without prior knowledge using the smartglasses, and Instagram has cracked down on nonconsensual videos made with the glasses posted on the platform.
• Sales of the smartglasses have tripled in the last year, with over 7 million sold worldwide.
• Fears about the glasses being used to film people without consent have led to them being labelled "pervert glasses."
• Earlier this year, a claimant in the high court was accused by a judge of wearing smart glasses and getting "coaching" through them while giving evidence. Laimonas Jakstys was told to remove the glasses during a case over the directorship of a property company. Mrs Justice Agnello said Jakstys had been "assisted or coached in his replies to questions put to him during cross examination." Jakstys denied using the smart glasses to receive answers and denied they were connected to his phone.

Perspectives

Venue owners and executives

Restaurateur Jeremy King, who owns venues including Simpsons in the Strand, Arlington, and The Park, said guests should not wear the recording glasses. He told the Guardian: "I would never knowingly allow any invasion of guest privacy other than with the eyes we were born with." A spokesperson for Soho House confirmed that filming is not allowed in their private members' clubs, and the glasses are no exception. Tim Martin, chief executive of pub chain Wetherspoons, said: "The general code that applies in our pubs, and most pubs, is that you can't film customers or employees without their permission. Meta glasses seem to breach this code, and common sense, by enabling surreptitious surveillance, so our instinct is to say turn off the cameras. This is akin to our efforts to stop audible playing of videos in our pubs, which also invades people's space." ATG Theatres, which owns venues including the Bristol Hippodrome and Edinburgh Playhouse, also stated that filming is not allowed and that those wearing glasses during shows will be asked to remove them.

Courts and tribunal service

The CTS spokesperson said: "There are clear restrictions on taking images or videos within courts and tribunals which is why the use of Meta glasses is prohibited." A source said: "Users who bring Meta glasses into courts or tribunals will have them confiscated on entry and they will be returned when the owner leaves the building." Smartphones are allowed on the condition they are not used for recording court procedures.