Law enforcement agencies across the United States are increasingly concerned about the potential for Meta smart glasses to be used against them, according to previously unreported documents reviewed by the Guardian.
In January, the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) counterterrorism unit issued a memo warning police officers about Ray-Ban Meta glasses, equipped with small cameras and microphones, as a potential “security and counterintelligence” threat. The memo directed officers to inspect eyewear in inmate cells, cautioning that arrested individuals could use the glasses to record inside police facilities. It cited two social media videos as examples.
The NYPD memo stated that the ability to covertly record inside law enforcement or detention facilities could pose a security risk if proprietary information about cell layouts, camera placements, or officer routines were released. Officers from Maine to California reportedly fear the technology could be used to secretly record officers and facilities, or to aid in crimes and acts of terrorism.
In August, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency stated that smart glasses qualify as body-worn cameras and cannot be worn in the “federal workspace”. A memo from ICE’s acting director, David Venturella, indicated that using such devices could unintentionally capture or transmit sensitive information.
Meta spokesperson Dina El-Kassaby stated that the glasses are designed to be noticed, featuring a bright white LED that blinks when recording and cannot be turned off. The camera is disabled if the LED is covered or tampered with.