His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has banned Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses from all criminal, civil and family courts in England and Wales, according to The Guardian. Anyone attempting to bring the glasses into a court building will have them confiscated and returned upon leaving, in line with existing rules that prohibit cameras and any unauthorised recording, which can be prosecuted as contempt of court. The move reflects growing unease about the device's ability to record video covertly, unlike a smartphone, which courts still permit as long as it is not used to film.

The decision follows a case at a London court where a man was accused of being coached during cross-examination via smart glasses, an allegation he denies, and mirrors a similar ban recently introduced in New York state. Concerns extend beyond courts: UK venues including Wetherspoons, restaurants, members' clubs and music venues have also barred the glasses over covert filming worries, dubbed "pervert glasses" by some. A University of Sydney study reportedly found hundreds of Instagram videos of women filmed without consent by "pick-up artist" creators, around 60% of which showed potentially harassing behaviour, with some victims doxxed. Meta declined to comment on the court ban; the company sold roughly seven million pairs of its smart glasses in 2025.