US police warn Meta Ray‑Ban smart glasses could be used for secret recordings

A memo circulated in January by the New York Police Department’s counterterrorism unit has raised alarms across law‑enforcement agencies from Maine to California about the potential misuse of Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses. The document, classified as a “security and counterintelligence” warning, instructs officers to inspect all eyewear allowed inside inmate cells and to remain vigilant for the devices’ concealed cameras and microphones, which could be used to capture video or audio inside police facilities without detection. The memo cites two instances in which recordings from the glasses were posted on social media, illustrating how individuals in custody might exploit the technology to document interior police environments.

Following the New York alert, several police departments have issued similar advisories, emphasizing the need for routine checks of personal electronic accessories and reinforcing existing protocols for contraband control. Officials stress that the glasses could also be leveraged by extremist actors to gather intelligence for planning attacks, prompting a broader discussion on the balance between emerging wearable technology and public‑safety safeguards. The coordinated response reflects growing concern within law‑enforcement circles that consumer‑grade devices equipped with surveillance capabilities may pose novel security challenges.