Courts across England and Wales have joined the growing list of venues banning Meta smart glasses, with security staff now confiscating the devices from anyone who tries to bring them into a courtroom.

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, which runs every criminal, civil, and family court in the two nations, confirmed the policy weeks after New York courts imposed a similar ban. A 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 familiar with the procedure said glasses are confiscated on entry and returned when the owner leaves the building. Smartphones remain allowed, with the usual condition that they are not used for photography or recording inside, so the rule targets the wearable cameras specifically rather than all recording devices.

The ban lands as restaurants, theaters, and pubs across the UK already turn away the devices, part of a broader backlash that has seen the glasses branded as spyware. Unauthorized recording in court buildings can be prosecuted as contempt of court.

The move underscores how quickly camera-equipped glasses are becoming a policy problem: venues are writing their own rules while lawmakers in several countries weigh legislation. It also adds pressure on Meta, which has promised stronger privacy features and a clearer recording indicator for its next-generation Ray-Ban frames.

For wearers the practical takeaway is simple: leave the glasses at home before a court date, or hand them over at security and collect them on the way out.

Source: The Guardian