Azernews.Az

By Alimat Aliyeva

Restaurants, pubs, and theaters across the UK have started banning visitors from wearing Meta's smart glasses, citing growing concerns over privacy and the possibility of covert photo and video recording, AzerNEWS reports.

Jeremy King, the owner of several well-known restaurants in central London, told reporters that guests wearing the devices would not be permitted inside his establishments.

"I will never knowingly allow any intrusion into the private lives of our guests beyond what is possible with the eyes we were born with," King said.

A similar stance has been adopted by Wetherspoons, one of Britain's largest pub chains, as well as ATG Entertainment (formerly ATG Theatres), which operates theaters in cities including Bristol and Edinburgh. The organizations argue that visitors should be able to enjoy their meals and performances without worrying about being secretly recorded.

In response, Meta emphasized that privacy was a key consideration during the development of the glasses. The company noted that every pair features a built-in LED indicator that flashes whenever photos or videos are being captured. According to Meta, this light cannot be disabled or concealed, making it clear when recording is taking place.

The debate highlights a growing challenge for businesses as wearable AI technology becomes more common. While smart glasses offer features such as hands-free photography, voice-controlled AI assistance, and live streaming, critics argue that they blur the line between convenience and surveillance. As these devices become increasingly popular, more public venues around the world may introduce similar restrictions to protect the privacy of their customers.