ICE boss to agents: Leave the Meta spy glasses at home

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials are cautioning employees against wearing Meta smart glasses to work, according to a recent report. David Venturella, acting director of ICE, warned in a Tuesday memo that the use of Meta Glasses or similar devices could lead to unintentional recording or transmission of sensitive information, potentially compromising privacy and legal protections.

ICE policy already prohibits employees from using personal body-worn cameras in the workplace, and these Meta glasses fall under this prohibition, the agency stated. The agency's spokesperson noted that this isn't a new policy and reiterated that personally owned body-worn cameras and unauthorized recording are prohibited. While the policy reminder may not be breaking news, the specific ban on Meta's smart glasses has gained attention following a similar directive from DEF CON hackers to leave any recording-capable glasses at home.

Several businesses, including restaurants, pubs, and private clubs, have also adopted measures to prevent patrons from wearing these types of smart glasses due to privacy concerns. The UK's privacy watchdog has even launched an investigation into Meta's smart glasses after reports of contractors reviewing private recordings without consent.