England and Wales ban Meta smart glasses in courts: they will be confiscated upon entry

The courts of England and Wales have Meta glasses officially bannedwhich will be confiscated at the entrance, and thus join the several restaurants, theaters and pubs that had already banned them.

According to the British media The Guardian, the Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCTS) has banned Meta smart glasses from all courts and tribunals in England and Wales.

This measure comes after New York’s announcement last month of a similar ban on glasses from the company led by Mark Zuckerberg, which are characterized by record video when worn.

The ban means, unlike smartphones, which are allowed into courts and tribunals, that Meta glasses be confiscated at security checkpoints when the person is going to enter the building and return them once upon exit.

“There are clear restrictions on taking images or videos in courts and tribunals, so the use of Meta glasses is prohibited,” a spokesperson told the aforementioned media.

The law in the United Kingdom prohibits photography or recording inside judicial facilities without authorization, which may constitute contempt. The objective of this measure is to prevent clandestine recording of judicial processes.

In fact, earlier this year, according to the BBC, a judge accused a defendant of using the smart glasses to receive live assistance during an interrogation.

Likewise, Meta’s glasses they are generating animosity for its ability to film people without their consent and for being a tool that violates people’s privacy.

What’s more, Meta had to update its smart glasses with a feature that disables the camera when the capture LED is covered, because many users manipulated it to prevent it from emitting light and knowing that it is recording.