ICE Bans Employees from Wearing Meta Smart Glasses at Work
ICE has reportedly told employees they cannot wear Meta glasses while working, citing privacy and legal protections, as smart glasses become common in immigration enforcement.
According to The New York Times, a memo sent to staff said that "the use of Meta Glasses or similar devices could unintentionally capture, record, or transmit sensitive information, potentially compromising privacy and legal protections." The policy apparently covers all agency employees, not just field agents.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The New York Times that workers have "always" been barred from using "personally owned body-worn cameras." While the memo may be a clarification of existing rules, its existence highlights how frequently Meta glasses have been spotted on immigration agents in recent months.
ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents have repeatedly been seen wearing Meta smart glasses. 404 Media reported a CBP agent recording with the glasses despite the policy. Another Border Patrol agent wore them during an immigration raid. An investigation by The Independent found similar sightings in at least six states.
While DHS is now advising staff not to use the glasses, the agency is reportedly interested in developing its own version. Budget documents reported by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein indicate ICE hopes to equip officers with bespoke smart glasses featuring "biometric identification capabilities" by next year.
Meta has not publicly commented on whether its product is suited for law enforcement. The company faces growing criticism over the glasses, including fears about an unreleased facial recognition feature and an LED indicator that privacy researchers say is easy to bypass.