Institutions including courts in England and Wales have joined a number of restaurants, theaters and pubs in the U.K. in banning Meta smart glasses amid growing concerns over "spyware," according to recent media reports.
The court service said anyone trying to enter court buildings with the glasses will have them confiscated and returned when they leave, The Guardian reported exclusively on Tuesday.
The move comes a month after courts in New York announced a ban on the controversial glasses, which can record video footage while being worn.
His Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), which is responsible for criminal, civil and family courts in England and Wales, has decided that Meta glasses will be confiscated from anyone entering its buildings.
"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 told the British daily.
In the U.K., taking images or videos inside court buildings without official permission is prohibited and can be prosecuted as contempt of court.
Fears about Meta glasses being used to film people, especially women, without their consent have led to them being labelled "pervert glasses."
Several restaurants, theatres and pubs in the U.K., including Wetherspoons, have banned Meta glasses over privacy fears, the report by The Guardian said.
Other media reports, including in the U.K. and the U.S., reported of growing backlash against glasses due to the privacy concerns.
