Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a directive prohibiting its employees from wearing Meta’s smart glasses in federal workplaces, citing privacy and security concerns. The decision was outlined in a memo released Tuesday by David Ventrella, the agency’s acting director, who described the glasses as a form of body-worn camera capable of recording video and audio discreetly.
The policy explicitly bars ICE personnel from using Meta Glasses or comparable devices within government facilities, regardless of whether they serve in law enforcement roles. The agency emphasized that unauthorized recording devices and personally owned body-worn cameras remain prohibited.
Meta’s smart glasses, introduced in 2021 and developed in collaboration with brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley, incorporate a small camera situated above the eye frame that can capture and record audio and video. The devices emit a blinking white light while recording and some newer models include features such as artificial intelligence assistants and a tiny visual display visible to the wearer.
According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, the ban on personally owned recording devices has been longstanding, highlighting ICE’s concerns over the potential for the Meta glasses to inadvertently capture sensitive or legally protected information.
ICE’s move follows a wider trend among workplaces and public institutions restricting or banning Meta Glasses due to privacy worries. Last month, New York state became the first to prohibit these devices in court buildings, aiming to prevent covert recordings. Similarly, some retail and dining establishments have banned the smart glasses amid incidents of users recording inside their premises without consent.
While ICE does not have an official partnership with Meta, the agency’s agents have faced criticism in recent months for wearing the glasses during immigration enforcement operations and public protests. An earlier ICE policy in June had initially banned the devices, but the agency reversed that decision briefly in August before reinstating the prohibition in the current memo.
Meta declined to comment on the new restrictions.