The Guardian reported on the 6th (local time) that, due to concerns about illegal filming, a growing number of restaurants, pubs (bars), and theaters in the United Kingdom are banning the use of ‘smart glasses’ (smart glasses).

Jeremy King, a prominent restaurateur who operates Simpsons in the Strand, Arlington, and The Park, told the Guardian that customers should not use recording-capable smart glasses, saying, “We will never allow the deliberate invasion of guests' privacy by anything other than people's natural eyes.”

Tim Martin, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the pub chain Wetherspoons, also said that “the basic rule that customers or staff must not be filmed without consent applies,” adding, “(which lead the smart-glasses market) Meta's glasses appear to violate this rule, so it is only natural to require that the cameras be turned off.”

Club operator Soho House said that its no-filming principle also applies to smart glasses in its clubs, so members wearing them may be asked to remove them. ATG Theatres, which operates theaters in London, Bristol, and Edinburgh, also said that because filming is prohibited inside theaters, it will ask audience members wearing smart glasses to take them off.

Smart glasses have rapidly expanded in the market by adding artificial intelligence (AI) functions to a design and wearability similar to regular eyeglasses. Meta sold more than 7 million units of smart glasses last year.

However, fears and complaints have continued to be raised that one's image could be recorded in public places without one's knowledge.

The BBC reported in May that a woman was illegally filmed by a man wearing smart glasses at a London shopping mall, and when she contacted him to ask that a video posted on social media be deleted, she was asked for money in return. There have also been reports of a man wearing smart glasses recording a sexual encounter without consent, after which the victimized woman reported it to the police.

A Meta spokesperson said, “Our AI glasses have privacy protections built in,” adding, “All glasses have a capture LED that blinks when they are recording content that can be saved or shared, and this LED cannot be turned off. If someone tries to cover or damage that LED, the camera is disabled.”