UK cinemas move to curb smart glasses over piracy fears
British cinema operators are introducing venue-specific policies to restrict camera-enabled smart glasses, citing piracy and privacy concerns.
Cinema operators across Britain are rolling out new policies to prohibit or restrict the use of camera-enabled smart glasses, including Meta's AI-powered eyewear, the UK Cinema Association confirmed on Thursday. The move is driven by concerns over film piracy and patron privacy.
Rather than adopting a single industry-wide rule, individual venues are setting their own guidelines. Some are outright banning the devices, while others are imposing conditions on their use. The association noted that operators recognise the potential benefits of smart glasses for patrons with specific access requirements.
The decision follows heightened scrutiny of such devices in other settings. Earlier this month, courts in England and Wales barred Meta smart glasses due to restrictions on capturing images and video in judicial proceedings.
The UK Cinema Association said it will continue collaborating with members to keep their policies "relevant and proportionate" as technology evolves.
Separately, a German advocacy group filed a criminal complaint in early August against Meta and other parties involved in selling the devices, citing privacy law violations.