UK Court Service Bans Meta Smart Glasses After Restaurants, Theatres and Pubs Lead 'Spyware' Privacy Push

UK Court Service Bans Meta Smart Glasses After Restaurants, Theatres and Pubs Lead 'Spyware' Privacy Push

His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service has banned Meta smart glasses from judicial buildings across England and Wales. Anyone entering with the devices will have them confiscated and returned only on leaving, a spokesperson confirmed this week. The decision comes after restaurants, theatres and pubs led a privacy push against what critics call 'spyware', amid fears of covert filming. The ban, reported on 11 August 2026, aligns with existing …

Meta glasses banned from courts across England and Wales

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service has banned Meta smart glasses from court buildings across England and Wales, with security staff instructed to confiscate the devices on entry and return them when the wearer leaves. “There are clear restrictions on taking images or videos within courts and tribunals which is why the use of Meta glasses is prohibited,” an HMCTS spokesperson said. HMCTS runs the criminal, civil and family courts in Engla…

Should retailers ban smart glasses from their stores?

In 2021, Ray-Ban and Meta joined forces to release the latest evolution in wearable technology – the ‘smart glasses’.  In the intervening years, smart glasses have transformed from a seemingly harmless tech novelty to true privacy headache for businesses, with pubs, restaurants and even the courts cracking down on their use. As concerns grow over covert filming, should retailers be next to show them the door? Retailers have spent years wrestling…

Courts ban Meta glasses

AI-powered eyewear will be confiscated at the door Courts and tribunals in England and Wales have joined the growing list of venues to ban Meta smart glasses, with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) confirming that the AI-powered specs will be confiscated at the door. The decision follows numerous restaurants and pubs, the UK promoter of Comic-Con, and New York’s court system in outlawing the devices, which have previously been b…