Smart Glasses Banned In NYC Courts

NEW YORK, NY— Anyone heading into a New York courthouse will soon need to leave their smart glasses behind.

Beginning July 20, New York will prohibit smart glasses and other camera-equipped eyewear inside every state courthouse, making it the first state to adopt a statewide ban on the devices.

The policy applies to all 1,240 New York courts.

The ban covers any eyewear or headwear equipped with cameras or microphones, including prescription smart glasses.

Visitors, attorneys and court employees must surrender the devices to uniformed court officers before entering a courthouse.

Anyone who needs corrective lenses will have to bring a separate pair of conventional glasses.

Why Is New York Banning Smart Glasses?

Courtrooms have long prohibited unauthorized photography, video and audio recording.

The Unified Court System's rules state that "taking photographs, films or videotapes, or audiotaping, broadcasting or telecasting, in a courthouse including any courtroom, office or hallway thereof, at any time or on any occasion, whether or not the court is in session, is forbidden."

Unlike smartphones, smart glasses can record discreetly without requiring someone to hold up a camera, raising concerns about jurors, witnesses, attorneys and court proceedings being recorded without permission.

What Prompted The Change?

The issue drew national attention in February during Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's testimony in a social media addiction trial.

Members of Zuckerberg's security team entered the courthouse wearing Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses before the judge warned against recording courtroom proceedings with the devices.

The judge expressed concern that jurors could be recorded or identified.

While there was no indication the glasses had been used to record inside the courtroom, the incident highlighted concerns about wearable recording technology in judicial settings.

Which Devices Are Covered?

The rule applies to any glasses or headwear equipped with cameras or microphones, regardless of manufacturer.

That includes prescription smart glasses.

Although companies such as Meta have introduced safeguards designed to make covert recording more difficult, New York's policy does not distinguish between brands or device features.

How Will The Rule Be Enforced?

People arriving with smart glasses will not be allowed to wear them inside courthouse facilities.

Instead, they must leave the devices with court officers before passing through security.

The requirement applies to visitors, attorneys and court employees.