England and Wales are banning Meta's smart glasses from every courtroom. His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) will confiscate the devices at the entrance of criminal, civil and family courts, returning them when visitors leave, according to an exclusive Guardian report.
The reason is recording. Smartphones remain permitted as long as they are not used to record proceedings — but the glasses are banned outright because their cameras and microphones can capture audio and video covertly, with no obvious sign that recording is taking place. Officials cited the risk of unauthorized recording and contempt of court.
The ban reflects a broader UK backlash against AI-enabled wearables. Bars, restaurants and theaters across the country have begun barring the devices, and there have been reported criminal cases involving smart glasses and covert recording. The devices' discreet design, paired with AI features, has turned them into a flashpoint for privacy concerns: people around a wearer may be recorded without knowledge or consent.
For Meta, the ban is an unwelcome reminder of the friction between consumer AI hardware and privacy norms. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses are among the company's most successful hardware products, but their recording capabilities have repeatedly collided with venues and laws designed for an era of visible cameras.
The court ban is likely to set a precedent. Other judiciaries and sensitive institutions — schools, gyms, changing rooms, workplaces — are watching how the UK handles the question, and similar restrictions could spread as AI wearables become more common. The tension is fundamental: how to enjoy the benefits of always-on AI devices without surrendering the expectation of privacy in public and semi-public spaces.
