Μake us preferred on Google Meta’s latest AI-powered smart glasses are apparently facing mounting resistance in Britain, with restaurants, private clubs, pubs and theaters banning or restricting the camera-equipped eyewear over concerns that customers and staff could be filmed without their consent, UK media report this week.
One outlet, The Guardian, cited a “backlash” following the high-profile launch of the wearable device, promoted by reality TV star Kylie Jenner. Retailing for 359 UK pounds, the glasses resemble conventional eyewear but incorporate discreet cameras, microphones and Meta’s AI assistant, allowing users to capture photos and video hands-free while accessing features such as live translation, phone calls and music.
Among the first to act was prominent London restaurateur Jeremy King, owner of Simpsons in the Strand, Arlington and The Park.
“I would never knowingly allow any invasion of the privacy of our guests beyond that provided by the eyes we were born with,” King told The Guardian.
According to the latter, Soho House has also instructed members wearing the glasses to remove them because filming is prohibited inside its clubs. Pub chain Wetherspoons said customers are not permitted to record patrons or employees without consent, while ATG Theatres confirmed audience members would be asked to remove the glasses during performances if they are being worn for recording.
The concerns center on the devices’ ability to discreetly capture video. Although Meta says a built-in LED indicator flashes whenever recording is taking place—and that the camera is automatically disabled if the light is tampered with—privacy advocates argue the warning is too small to reassure bystanders. (
Meta defended the product, saying the glasses are designed to be useful everyday devices while incorporating privacy safeguards.
“People use our glasses because they’re genuinely useful, from listening to music and live translation to hands-free calling. Trust is fundamental, which is why we designed our AI glasses with privacy at the forefront,” a Meta spokesperson said. The company noted that every pair includes a recording LED that cannot be switched off, adding that if the light is covered or damaged, the camera automatically stops functioning.
The company has also said Instagram will remove content that exploits or harasses people filmed with the glasses. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri has stated that content used to exploit or harass individuals will be taken down under the platform’s policies.
The apparent controversy in Britain echoes broader concerns that have surfaced in the United States.
Privacy experts, civil liberties advocates and technology commentators have questioned whether wearable AI devices normalize covert surveillance in public spaces. US technology publications including TechCrunch and The Verge have reported growing criticism over Meta’s plans for increasingly AI-enabled wearables, including concerns about potential facial recognition capabilities, continuous data collection and the adequacy of current privacy protections. Meta has responded by introducing additional safeguards, including software that disables the camera if users attempt to obscure the recording indicator.
Despite the controversy, demand has remained strong. Meta and eyewear partner EssilorLuxottica have reported that sales of their AI glasses exceeded 7 million units worldwide last year, underscoring the growing commercial appeal of wearable AI even as privacy concerns intensify.
