SharePub giant J D Wetherspoon, better known as ‘Spoons, has issued a formal ban on customers filming with Meta smart glasses across its network of over 800 venues in the UK. In a statement addressing the new policy, a Wetherspoon spokesperson clarified that while the company utilizes CCTV for security, such systems are strictly regulated by data protection legislation. In contrast, Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses – which feature integrated cameras, microphones, and AI – operate without such oversight when used by individuals. The decision arrives amid a broader debate about the potential for wearable tech to be weaponised for harassment. Despite these assurances, Wetherspoons’ preemptive ban highlights a deepening friction between the rapid adoption of AI-powered wearables and traditional expectations of privacy in social environments.