- Wetherspoons has instructed customers to switch off cameras and refrain from filming with Meta-style smart glasses, although it has not implemented a full ban.
- The company declined to clarify whether customers who refuse to stop recording would be ejected from the premises.
- The Guardian has criticized UK regulators for being on the back foot regarding privacy concerns and has called for more active regulation.
- There has been increasing criticism of Meta-style smart glasses across various UK venues, including Wetherspoons and ATG.
- Wetherspoons stated that the general code in their pubs prohibits filming customers or employees without their permission, which Meta glasses seem to breach.
- Privacy concerns have led other venues, such as Monopoly Events and Soho House, to impose bans on recording devices, including smart glasses.
- Wetherspoons has indicated that recording with smart glasses would attract the attention of security staff, suggesting a less strict policy compared to other venues.
- Regulators have been criticized for their passive approach to the rollout of wearable hidden cameras, despite the potential for misuse.
Wetherspoons has taken a stance against the use of Meta-style smart glasses in its pubs, advising customers to turn off their cameras due to privacy concerns. A spokesperson stated, "Meta glasses seem to breach this code, and common sense, by enabling surreptitious surveillance."1567
While Wetherspoons has not implemented a full ban, it has indicated that recording could attract security attention. This policy contrasts with other venues that have outright banned such devices due to privacy issues. Monopoly Events and Soho House are among those that have prohibited recording glasses, reflecting a growing trend in the hospitality and entertainment sectors.
The Guardian has urged UK regulators to take a proactive approach in addressing the privacy implications of these devices, especially as reports of misuse have surfaced. Earlier this year, the BBC reported incidents of women being filmed without consent, raising alarms about the potential for increased sexual offences linked to the normalization of smart glasses. In the year to March 2025, such offences accounted for more than half of an 11% increase in reported cases in England and Wales.8
As criticism mounts, businesses like Wetherspoons are being praised for prioritizing customer privacy, while regulators are seen as lagging behind in addressing these emerging concerns. “These organisations deserve praise for standing up for privacy,” the Guardian noted, highlighting the urgent need for regulatory action.
“The Guardian editorial cites that in the year to March 2025, smart glasses were responsible for more than half of an 11% increase in reported sexual offences in England and Wales. It also notes UK prices for Meta glasses start at £269, with Kylie Jenner fronting the summer campaign.”
The Guardian
