New York has become the first US state to implement a blanket ban on smart glasses across all its courthouses, marking a significant escalation in the regulation of wearable recording technology within the judicial system.
Starting July 20, all 1,240 state, county, city, town, and village courts in New York will prohibit smart glasses and any eyewear or headwear equipped with cameras and microphones from their premises. Signs announcing the new rule were posted last week at the Honorable James C. Torney III Criminal Courthouse in Syracuse, putting visitors, legal professionals, and staff on notice.
What the Ban Covers
The ban applies to all types of smart eyewear, including prescription smart glasses, and extends across every facility within the New York State Unified Court System — from courtrooms and offices to hallways and waiting areas. Visitors will be required to surrender their devices to uniformed court officers for safekeeping before being allowed entry. Even lawyers and court staff are not exempt.
The rule builds on existing New York court regulations that already forbid “taking photographs, films or videotapes, or audiotaping, broadcasting or telecasting” inside any courthouse, regardless of whether court is in session. Smart glasses present a unique enforcement challenge because they allow users to record discreetly — without the visible act of raising a phone or camera.
The Zuckerberg Incident That Raised Alarm
Concerns over smart glasses in court gained national attention in February, when Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared for a jury trial over social media addiction. Members of his team were observed wearing Meta Ray-Ban glasses while escorting him into the courthouse, prompting the presiding judge to issue a warning against recording courtroom proceedings with the devices. The judge expressed particular concern about jurors being inadvertently recorded and identified.
While it remains unclear whether any recordings were actually made, the incident highlighted the growing tension between wearable tech and courtroom security.
Can Smart Glasses Be Modified to Record Secretly?
Most commercial smart glasses, including Meta’s popular Ray-Ban lineup, include indicator lights that activate when the camera is recording. However, these safeguards can be bypassed. Third-party modification services offer to disable or remove the LEDs for a fee, effectively making the devices undetectable recording tools.
Meta has responded by deploying an update that disables the camera entirely if its system detects the capture LED has been physically tampered with or destroyed. Still, New York’s courthouse ban takes a zero-tolerance approach: modified or not, the devices simply won’t be allowed inside.
A Growing Trend in Smart Glasses Restrictions
While courts in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania had previously imposed local restrictions on smart glasses, New York is the first to enact a statewide blanket ban. The move could set a precedent for other states grappling with similar privacy and security concerns.
The trend extends beyond courtrooms. Earlier this year, Royal Caribbean banned smart glasses in sensitive areas including public restrooms, youth programs, medical facilities, and casinos. MSC Cruises implemented a partial ban on the devices last year, citing passenger privacy. Meanwhile, Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that would add smart glasses to the list of prohibited devices for drivers as part of distracted driving prevention efforts.
What This Means for the Future
As smart glasses technology becomes more sophisticated and affordable, privacy and security experts expect more venues to follow New York’s lead. The ability to record high-quality video inconspicuously poses challenges for any setting where confidential proceedings, personal privacy, or security protocols are paramount.
For now, anyone planning to visit a New York courthouse should leave their smart glasses at home — or bring a regular pair of backup glasses for the duration of their visit.