Meta smart glasses have been banned in bars, restaurants, and venues across the United Kingdom following widespread concerns over customer and employee privacy caused by the camera-equipped recording devices.
Establishments including the private members club Soho House and national pub operator Wetherspoons have introduced strict rules prohibiting patrons from wearing the smart glasses inside their premises.
Jeremy King, a prominent restaurant owner in London, told The Guardian newspaper that he would never knowingly allow any invasion of customer privacy, except with the natural eyes with which people are born.
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, originally launched its smart eyewear line hoping the wearable technology would gain mainstream consumer adoption comparable to tablets and smartwatches. However, hospitality leaders in Britain have moved quickly to restrict the technology. Soho House operates exclusive membership clubs across London and internationally, while Wetherspoons runs hundreds of popular pubs throughout the UK, making their bans significant markers of public pushback.
Theatre Restrictions and Harassment Concerns
Theatre audiences in Britain are also facing strict rules regarding the technology. A spokesperson for ATG Theatres, which operates major venues including the Bristol Hippodrome and the Edinburgh Playhouse, confirmed that video recording is strictly forbidden during live performances.
The spokesperson stated that any patron seen wearing Meta smart glasses inside the auditoriums will be requested to remove them immediately before or during the shows.
Public unease surrounding the devices intensified after video clips filmed using the glasses circulated online, showing instances of harassment directed at women. Several of the recordings went viral across major social media platforms, sparking public debate over non-consensual filming in public places.
ATG Theatres, officially known as Ambassador Theatre Group, is one of the largest live theatre operators in the United Kingdom, managing historic venues in major cities like Edinburgh and Bristol. Instagram, the photo and video platform managed by Meta executive Adam Mosseri, has become a focal point for the distribution of user-generated content filmed with the hands-free eyewear.
Platform Enforcement and Meta Response
Addressing the controversy, Instagram head Adam Mosseri stated that the social media network has stepped up its moderation and enforcement policies against videos recorded without consent using smart glasses and subsequently uploaded to the platform.
Meta maintained that it remains fully committed to safeguarding user privacy. In an official statement, the technology firm emphasized that the glasses serve numerous helpful functions beyond recording video, including streaming music, providing real-time language translations, and making hands-free phone calls.
The company stressed that maintaining trust is fundamental for both the individuals who wear the smart glasses and the members of the public around them.
Meta smart glasses feature miniaturized camera lenses and microphones integrated into standard spectacle frames, allowing wearers to capture photos and audio-video footage without holding a smartphone. While tech developers designed the hardware for seamless daily connectivity, privacy advocates and business owners have questioned whether built-in notification lights provide adequate warning to bystanders being filmed.
