Meta smart glasses are facing growing restrictions in the UK, with several private schools banning the devices over fears they could be used to secretly record pupils and fuel bullying.
The glasses, developed by Meta alongside Ray-Ban and Oakley, look much like conventional sunglasses and spectacles but come fitted with miniature cameras. The technology allows users to take photographs, record videos and livestream content, raising concerns about people being filmed without their knowledge or consent.
Haberdashers’ Boys’ School in Hertfordshire is introducing a ban on the glasses from September, while Woodbridge School in Suffolk has also prohibited their use on school grounds by students, parents, visitors and staff. Shrewsbury School in Shropshire previously warned parents that pupils should not wear the devices.
Privacy and child safety have emerged as major concerns among schools considering the restrictions. Shrewsbury School told parents that while smart glasses represented an exciting technological development, their ability to record and share footage discreetly could create risks for pupils, staff and visitors.
There are also fears that the technology could be misused for bullying. Research involving schools in the United States reportedly found that a significant number of videos captured using smart glasses involved harassment or bullying of fellow students.
The devices are facing scrutiny beyond the education sector too. The University of Glasgow has barred students from wearing them during examinations amid concerns that the built-in assistant could potentially be used to gain an unfair advantage.
Courts across England and Wales have also warned that smart glasses may be confiscated from people attempting to enter court buildings. Pub giant Wetherspoons has separately introduced restrictions, citing its policy against customers filming staff or other patrons without permission.
Wetherspoons chairman Sir Tim Martin said the glasses appeared to conflict with the company’s rules because of their ability to facilitate discreet recording. Customers entering the chain’s more than 800 UK venues may therefore be asked to switch off the cameras.
Despite the backlash, Meta’s smart glasses have attracted strong consumer interest. The devices reportedly cost between £247 and £379, with the company selling around seven million pairs last year.
Their popularity has also prompted interest from competitors, with Apple reportedly exploring camera-equipped AirPods as another form of wearable technology.
Instagram, which is owned by Meta, has also reportedly taken action against accounts suspected of using the glasses to secretly film other people.
As smart glasses become increasingly common, their ability to blend cameras and digital assistants into everyday eyewear is creating a new challenge for schools, businesses and public institutions. The technology may offer convenience and new ways to capture content, but concerns over consent, privacy and misuse are likely to remain at the centre of the debate.
