Wetherspoons has taken a stand against the Meta eyewear described as ‘creepy spy glasses’.

Following increased privacy concerns, the smart glasses, which allow wearers to capture photos and videos of their surroundings, have been banned by the pub giant.

Should punters wish to enter any of the UK’s 800+ Spoons, they will be ordered to ‘turn the cameras off’.

Wetherspoons explained that recording of customers or employees without consent is not permitted, adding that ‘Meta glasses seem to breach this code, and common sense, by enabling surreptitious surveillance.’

A spokesperson said: ‘Like many hospitality companies, Wetherspoon has CCTV cameras for security reasons, but their use is strictly controlled by data legislation.

‘Apart from that, the general code that applies in our pubs, and most pubs, is that you can’t film customers or employees without their permission.’

They went on to say that bosses’ ‘instinct’ to ban the techy specs is akin to their efforts to ‘stop audible playing of videos in [their] pubs, which also invades people’s space’.

Where else are Meta glasses banned?

Wetherspoons isn’t the first to ban them – those who wear the glasses in Soho House’s private members’ clubs can also be asked to take them off, with a spokesperson confirming their ‘no filming’ rule has no exceptions.

Last month, Monopoly Events, which is behind some of the biggest comic and entertainment events, announced that they, too, wished to put a stop to ‘secret filming’ via any ‘wearable recording devices’.

The decision was made after several Comic-Con guests said they would be reluctant to attend again after cases of people being unknowingly videoed.

ATG Theatres is among other companies prohibiting the glasses. It owns venues across Bristol, Edinburgh, and London.

What are Meta glasses, and what do they do?

Meta launched its first generation of smart glasses in a Ray-Ban collaboration in September 2021. The second generation, Ray-Ban Meta, dropped in 2023 with Meta AI integration before an additional line of Meta Glasses landed in June 2026.

As for their functions, the frames have a built-in POV (point of view) camera, open-ear audio, and Bluetooth connectivity.

By pairing them with the Meta app, users can ask questions, whether it be about the weather or a food item in a store, and receive answers.

They have been praised for their features, easily allowing people to stream music and podcasts, take phone calls, and send text messages on the go.

A spokesperson for the company has said they’re helpful for allowing wearers to ‘stay in the moment’, while also providing ‘critical new technology for people who are low-sighted or hard of hearing’.

Because of their sleek designs, the glasses are easy to mistake for regular Ray-Bans; however, their Meta powers can be detected by their thicker temples and a small camera lens in the upper right corner.

If someone is recording, the opposite corner’s LED light will turn on and begin pulsing.

As for the price tag, Meta glasses start at £269, but some far exceed the £400 mark, like the Kylie Jenner edition, which the reality star and entrepreneur designed.

Jenner has come under fire for promoting the accessory, particularly as women have expressed fears of them being misused to harass them and film them without their knowledge.

Nevertheless, Meta’s chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has proudly boasted about the glasses’ success, as they continue flying off the market and account for more than 80% of all AI or smart glasses sales.

‘They’re some of the fastest-growing consumer electronics in history,’ declared the Facebook founder.

Meanwhile, Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton previously told the BBC that people should behave responsibly with the technology.

‘We have teams dedicated to limiting and combating misuse, but as with any technology, the onus is ultimately on individual people to not actively exploit it.’

Irrespective of the questions surrounding the Black Mirror-esque technology, it looks like they’re here to stay, as Apple is also developing its own version, reportedly set for release next year.

Researchers have predicted that as many as 100 million people will purchase a pair in the next few years.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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