Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents in the United States are using Meta's AI smart glasses to surveil communities, according to an investigation by The Independent. The glasses, which can record video, take photos, and livestream, have been spotted on agents in six states since President Donald Trump took office.
The use of the devices raises privacy concerns, as the footage could be fed into facial recognition software or law enforcement databases. Civil liberties experts warn that personal recordings by agents could circumvent strict rules governing official body cameras. Homeland Security confirmed it has no contract with Meta for the glasses, and while agents may wear personal sunglasses, they are not authorised to record with personal devices.
Patrick Eddington, a surveillance analyst at the Cato Institute, said the practice is alarming given the Trump administration's view that filming agents is a security threat. He noted that non-violent protest is protected by the First Amendment and should not end up in government databases. Reports also indicate that people who have filmed agents have had their faces and license plates photographed.
The controversy echoes a recent court case where Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was warned by a judge that anyone using smart glasses to record in her courtroom must delete the footage or face contempt. The judge specifically ordered no facial recognition of the jury.
