UK cinemas are considering restricting Meta’s AI-enabled smart glasses over concerns about covert filming and movie piracy, although operators are also weighing their benefits for disabled customers.
UK cinemas are considering restricting or banning camera-equipped smart glasses over concerns they could be used to record films without permission.
The UK Cinema Association (UKCA), which represents the country’s cinema operators, said many major chains are considering policies that would prohibit or restrict wearable devices with built-in cameras.
The technology has raised concerns because Meta’s smart glasses can record video and take photographs while being worn, potentially making them harder for cinema staff to monitor than conventional cameras.
Phil Clapp, chief executive of the UKCA, said operators were considering the technology as concerns grow over both piracy and privacy.
However, no UK cinema chain has introduced a blanket ban, as far as the association is aware.
Cinemas are also considering how restrictions could affect customers who rely on smart glasses for accessibility.
Clapp said some people with visual impairments or hearing difficulties can benefit from the devices.
Certain smart glasses can provide personalised subtitles, potentially making films more accessible to people who would otherwise struggle to follow them.
Meta’s glasses have become increasingly popular, with the company selling more than seven million pairs in 2025.
They combine cameras and microphones with AI features that can answer questions, make calls, play music and translate conversations.
The latest models can also include a display built into the lens, allowing users to view messages, directions and translations without reaching for a smartphone.
But the devices have faced growing scrutiny as more venues introduce restrictions.
Wetherspoons has banned customers from recording inside its pubs using Meta’s glasses, while ATG Theatres, which operates venues including the Edinburgh Playhouse and Bristol Hippodrome, has said it will prevent people from using the glasses to record.
The use of Meta glasses is also prohibited in UK courts and tribunals because of existing restrictions on photography and video recording.
Meta has defended the devices, arguing that they provide important benefits for blind and low-vision users.
A spokesperson said: “Limiting how people can use this technology would be a major step backwards.”
The company also pointed to the glasses’ recording indicator, which illuminates when a photo or video is captured.
However, concerns remain over whether that signal is sufficient to prevent covert recording, particularly in dark cinema environments.
UK cinemas consider banning Meta AI glasses due to privacy fears
