Immigration and Customs Enforcement has officially prohibited its employees from wearing Meta smart glasses in federal workplaces. In a memo released August 18, acting ICE Director David Venturella classified the camera-equipped devices as personal body-worn cameras and banned their use across all agency facilities. According to Venturella, the glasses pose risks of inadvertently capturing or transmitting sensitive information that could compromise privacy and legal safeguards.
The directive applies to all ICE staff members and extends to any similar recording devices. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson clarified that this represents an enforcement of existing policy rather than a new regulation, noting that unauthorized personal recording equipment has long been prohibited. The restriction comes after documented instances of ICE and Border Patrol agents wearing Meta glasses during immigration operations and public demonstrations across multiple states, with some footage appearing to capture civilians without authorization.
ICE’s concerns center on loss of control over recorded footage. Personal devices allow recordings to be stored on individual phones or transmitted through Meta’s platforms, limiting agency oversight of data access, evidence preservation, and the capture of classified information. This surveillance vulnerability differs from ICE’s official body-camera program, which maintains strict protocols governing activation, storage, and review procedures.
Notably, while banning consumer smart glasses, the Department of Homeland Security is seeking $7.5 million in its 2027 budget to develop government-issued smart glasses equipped with biometric identification capabilities. Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about this initiative, warning that agents could scan individuals without consent. Details about data management for the proposed technology remain undisclosed.
Originally reported by Mashable →
About the Author
