His Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), which oversees all criminal, civil, and family courts in England and Wales, has implemented a ban on Meta smart glasses in judicial buildings. Officials stated that individuals attempting to bring the glasses into court facilities will have them confiscated upon entry and returned when they leave.
The decision follows similar restrictions introduced in New York courts last month. Court authorities cited existing prohibitions against recording video or audio within court buildings without authorization, noting that such activity can constitute contempt of court. While smartphones—which also possess recording capabilities—remain permitted in courts, they are allowed only on the condition that users do not employ them to record proceedings. HMCTS officials emphasized that no exception would be made for smart glasses despite their wearable form factor.
The ban was prompted by growing concerns about unauthorized recording using the devices. Earlier this year, a judge in the high court accused a claimant of wearing smart glasses during testimony and receiving “coaching” through them. The judge indicated the glasses may have been used to transmit information to the wearer during cross-examination, though the individual denied this allegation.
Meta glasses have faced increasing public and institutional pushback beyond the courtroom. Numerous restaurants, theatres, and pubs across the United Kingdom, including Wetherspoon establishments, have restricted or banned the devices due to privacy concerns. The glasses have been colloquially termed “pervert glasses” due to fears they could be used to film individuals, particularly women, without consent. A Meta representative declined to comment on the court ban but noted that a pulsing light activates when the glasses record, visible to nearby individuals, and that the company deploys regularly updated technology to prevent users from obscuring this indicator during recordings.
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