Smart Glasses Ban Spreads From New York Courts to SAT Test Rooms
New York's 1,240 courts, Western Australia's public schools and the SAT now bar camera glasses, often prescription pairs too. Here is where the rules apply.
Hakkı ALKANPublished 5 min read
Camera-equipped smart glasses such as Ray-Ban Meta are now banned in every New York state court, every Western Australian public school and every SAT test room, and more rules are on the way. No country has a permanent nationwide ban, but courts, schools and exam bodies are writing their own, and most of them cover prescription smart glasses too.
The common worry is covert recording. A phone has to be raised to film someone; glasses that look like ordinary frames can capture photos, video and audio from eye level, and bystanders often cannot tell when that is happening.
Where Are Smart Glasses Banned Right Now?
The rules below are the main ones in force or already scheduled, based on the official policies and reports we checked on November 15, 2026.
| Place | Who it covers | Since | Exemptions |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York state courts (1,240+) | Everyone entering, including lawyers and staff | July 20, 2026 | None; prescription pairs included |
| Western Australia public schools | Students, staff, parents, visitors, contractors | October 12, 2026 | Medical, accessibility, approved programs |
| Punjab, Pakistan | Use and sale of hidden-camera glasses | October 20, 2026 (30 days) | Law enforcement; phones, laptops, tablets |
| SAT test centers | All test takers, also during breaks | March 2026 | Approved accommodations |
| Victoria public schools | Students, staff, parents, volunteers, visitors | January 27, 2027 | Disability adjustment only |
Why Did New York Ban Smart Glasses in Courts?
From July 20, 2026, the New York State Unified Court System has barred any eyewear or headwear with a camera, microphone, computer or other recording technology from its more than 1,240 state, county, city, town and village courts. Visitors hand the glasses to uniformed court officers for safekeeping, and people who rely on prescription smart glasses are told to bring a regular pair, according to the New York State Bar Association.
The July 1 memo from court executive director Justin Barry said, "The reason for this prohibition is to ensure that individuals cannot surreptitiously record court proceedings in violation of the New York State Civil Rights Law and applicable court rules." The bar association called New York the first state to adopt such a ban.
The issue reached courtrooms earlier this year, when members of Mark Zuckerberg's security team wore smart glasses during his trial in California. Judge Carolyn Kuhl warned them they could not record and that she would hold them in contempt if they did.
How Strict Are the School Bans in Australia?
Western Australia went furthest. Under a CEO Instruction, a binding order from the education department's director general, students and staff may not wear, use, charge or store smart glasses on public school grounds or at school events such as sports days and excursions. Parents, visitors and contractors may not bring them at all, and those who refuse can be asked to leave, according to the Department of Education policy.
The department lists privacy, child safety, unauthorized recording, exam integrity and cyber security as the reasons. Education Minister Sabine Winton called it the country's "most comprehensive" ban, and the department has said it was a preventive step rather than a response to recorded misuse.
Victoria follows on January 27, 2027. Its government school policy covers smart glasses and other covert filming devices for everyone on site, with exemptions only as a disability adjustment when no other option works. Students at all Victorian schools, including Catholic and independent ones, must also keep smart glasses switched off and stored during school hours from the 2027 school year.
Is Any Country Banning the Sale of Smart Glasses?
The closest case is Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province. On October 20, 2026, its Home Department used Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, an emergency power for temporary public-order restrictions, to ban wearing or selling "camera-enabled smart glasses with hidden recording ability," along with tiny cameras disguised as pens or keychains, both online and in stores, Dawn reported.
Phones, laptops, tablets and authorized police use are exempt. Punjab's smart glasses ban runs for 30 days unless withdrawn, so by our count it would lapse around November 19 unless the province renews it. A petition challenging the unregulated import and sale of camera glasses is also before the Lahore High Court.
Do Prescription Smart Glasses Count?
In most cases, yes. New York explicitly includes them, and the College Board says students with prescription smart glasses must remove them or take the SAT another day with standard glasses. Its SAT testing rules, revised on September 29, 2026, bar any eyewear that offers internet access or AI features, even during breaks, and staff may inspect glasses and cancel scores.
The definitions also differ. New York and the SAT cover microphones, computers or internet access, Victoria defines smart glasses broadly, and Punjab targets camera-enabled models. A display-only pair without a camera may still be caught by some of these rules, so it is worth checking the venue's policy before you go.
What About the Recording Light on Meta Glasses?
Meta says the capture LED on its glasses lights up whenever they take photos or video, and that the camera is disabled if the light is covered or tampered with. An August 2026 update extended that to stop a recording if the LED is covered midway.
Officials are not relying on that light. Victoria's policy notes that recording indicators "may be also disabled or covered," and a small LED is easy to miss in a crowded hallway. Privacy regulators are already strict with Meta, which Italy fined 805 million euros over findings that Facebook read Android photos.
What Happens Next?
More camera glasses are coming. Google is preparing Android XR glasses, and Apple is reportedly aiming to unveil its own smart glasses at WWDC 2027.
Restrictions are spreading beyond courts and schools as well. According to reports, some UK cinemas and Australian pools already limit camera glasses, and Norway is weighing temporary limits in public spaces. For owners, the practical rule is simple: if your smart glasses are also your prescription glasses, keep a regular pair in your bag.