Courts in England and Wales ban Meta's smart glasses

His Majesty's Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has banned Meta's smart glasses across all criminal, civil, and family courts in England and Wales. Anyone attempting to bring the smart glasses into judicial buildings will have them confiscated on entry and returned upon departure.

Unauthorised photography or video recording in UK court buildings is prohibited and punishable as contempt of court. While smartphones are permitted provided they are not used to record proceedings, HMCTS confirmed that no exception will be made for smart glasses.

Concerns over court security intensified earlier this year when a High Court judge accused a claimant, Laimonas Jakštys, of receiving coaching through his smart glasses during cross-examination. He denied the allegation. HMCTS currently holds no statistics on how many times smart glasses have been brought into or used within court premises.

The ban follows growing public backlash against the wearable devices, which have also been banned by various UK restaurants, theatres, and pubs. 

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