Smart glasses, the wearable technology donned by serial harassers and Kardashians alike, are no longer allowed in New York courts.
The wearable technology – which includes any eyewear or headwear with the ability to record video or audio – was banned effective July 20, according to a memo from the state Office of Court Administration. Executive Director Justin Barry said in a statement the ban was in response to court officers noticing more and more people wearing the devices into courthouses, and a concern they could easily record court proceedings unnoticed.
The new rule means anyone with smart glasses cannot enter any state, county or municipal court without leaving the devices with court officers. Signs are currently up in courthouses advising visitors of the ban and that anyone with prescription lenses should bring another, regular pair of glasses. The ban applies to any visitors, including attorneys, witnesses and court employees.
In his statement, Barry said anyone seeking an accommodation for a disability could submit a request under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
It’s not clear if federal courts in New York have also specifically banned the glasses, but any electronics capable of recording – including phones and smartwatches – are prohibited from the courtroom with some limited exceptions.
While smart glasses have been around for well over a decade (Google Glass premiered in 2012), they have gained further attention after Meta launched a more realistic-looking set in collaboration with Ray-Bans in 2021. In June, Meta premiered their own brand of the glasses – co-signed by Kylie Jenner – starting at $299.
Criticism of the glasses arose as they’ve been used to surreptitiously record people, particularly as a means of harassing women. A light used to indicate recording can also be hacked with a $60 modifier, media outlets have found (custom stickers to go over the light, or tape, are even cheaper). In court proceedings for the just settled social media addiction lawsuit against Meta, a California judge threatened to hold anyone using smart glasses in contempt of court after members of CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s security team were seen wearing them.
Smartphones, while also capable of recording, are generally permitted in New York state courtrooms with some limitations, such as being silenced or turned off. Barry said the reason behind the stricter policy on smart glasses was straightforward.
“It is significantly easier to use smart glasses rather than a phone to surreptitiously record video of a proceeding, sensitive locations, or other court users – which could include witnesses, confidential informants, and crime victims,” he said.
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This article originally published at New York courts ban smart glasses after visitors kept wearing them to court.