German criminal complaint escalates global backlash against Meta smart glasses

Meta ↗ 1.02% is facing a mounting global backlash over its AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses, with courts in England and Wales banning the devices from judicial buildings, a criminal complaint filed in Germany on Wednesday, and venues across the United Kingdom restricting them over covert recording concerns.

Courts and Criminal Complaints

His Majesty's Courts & Tribunals Service confirmed that Meta glasses will be confiscated from anyone entering judicial buildings in England and Wales and returned upon leaving. "There are clear restrictions on taking images or videos within courts and tribunals which is why the use of Meta glasses is prohibited," a spokesperson said. The decision follows New York's earlier ban and an incident in which a claimant was accused of wearing smart glasses during a High Court hearing to receive coaching.mediapost+1

In Germany, digital rights group HateAid filed a criminal complaint on Wednesday against Meta, Ray-Ban, Oakley, and various sellers, arguing that the glasses' "Wayfarer" model is indistinguishable from ordinary eyewear and therefore breaches German law prohibiting the sale of devices "disguised as an everyday object and intended to film unnoticed." HateAid is calling for a ban on sales until stronger safety-by-design safeguards are implemented.mlex

Venue Bans and Public Outcry

The pub chain Wetherspoons has enforced a ban across its 800 locations. Founder Tim Martin said the devices breach rules against filming customers and employees without permission. Restaurateur Jeremy King banned the glasses across his London establishments, and private members' club Soho House now asks patrons to remove them entirely. ATG Theatres and Monopoly Events at Comic-Con gatherings have imposed similar restrictions.hypebeast

The backlash has intensified as women report being secretly recorded. NBC News reported on growing complaints of videos being posted online without consent. The Chicago Tribune reported that some users hire people to drill into the frames to disable the recording indicator light, and comedian Jimmy Kimmel dubbed the devices "pervert glasses" on national television.nbcnews+1

Meta's Response

Meta maintains the glasses include a flashing LED indicator during recording and anti-tampering measures that disable the camera if the light is covered. A spokesperson said the company "built privacy into our AI glasses from the ground up." Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in July that secretly recorded content would be banned on the platform. Meta has sold approximately 7 million pairs, commanding roughly 69% of the smart glasses market in the first quarter of 2026.chicagotribune+1

An app called Nearby Glasses, which uses Bluetooth signals to detect smart glasses wearers, has been downloaded approximately 110,000 times since its February release. Its creator, Yves Jeanrenaud, said: "It's a social problem that we encounter. That we don't value privacy, that we feel entitled to use others for our entertainment or our private gain, and technology amplifies that."chicagotribune