HMCTS bans Meta smart glasses from England and Wales courts

His Majesty's Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has officially prohibited the use of Meta smart glasses within court buildings across England and Wales. Under the new directive, individuals attempting to enter court premises with the devices will have them confiscated and returned only upon their departure. The decision underscores a strict enforcement of existing rules that ban cameras in courtrooms, with the wearable technology singled out for its capacity to record footage surreptitiously.

A spokesperson for the courts told The Guardian that clear restrictions on taking images or videos within courts and tribunals form the basis of the prohibition. Taking such images without official permission constitutes a crime and can be prosecuted as contempt of court. While HMCTS has carved out an exception for smartphones, permitting their use for non-recording purposes, smart glasses are explicitly excluded due to the inherent difficulty in detecting secret filming.

The ban follows a precedent set in New York, where similar restrictions were implemented to prevent unauthorised recordings. The move also mirrors actions taken by various UK venues, including Weatherspoons pubs, high-end restaurants, members' clubs, and entertainment venues, which have rejected the technology over concerns regarding secret filming. These venues have often referred to the devices as "pervert glasses" due to their potential for misuse.

Concerns over the technology are not limited to the courtroom. A London court recently addressed an incident where a man was accused of using smart glasses to receive coaching during cross-examination. The accused allegedly utilised built-in speakers connected to a nearby smartphone to receive instructions, a claim he has denied. This incident highlights fears that the technology could be used to manipulate legal proceedings beyond mere recording.

Market data indicates significant adoption of the technology, with Meta selling approximately 7 million pairs of Meta Glasses in 2025. Despite the growing regulatory pushback, Meta declined to comment on the new court ban when contacted by The Guardian. The company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, was recently involved in a high-profile trial regarding social media addiction, where members of his entourage wore the glasses, prompting a judge to threaten contempt of court to have them removed.

Broader studies have highlighted the risks associated with the devices. A University of Sydney study identified hundreds of videos on Instagram where male content creators secretly filmed women, with 60% of the behaviour classified as potential harassment. Many victims were subsequently identified and doxxed, illustrating the severe privacy implications that have driven the widespread rejection of smart glasses in public and professional spaces.