ICE bans the use of Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses by its agents

In the United States, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will no longer be able to use smart glasses marketed by Ray-Ban Meta. In a memo published on August 18 and revealed by the New York Times, the American agency considers these glasses as portable cameras whose use would pose a risk of data leak.

According to Acting ICE Director David Venturella, “Use of Meta Glasses or similar devices could result in the unintentional capture, recording, or transmission of sensitive information, potentially compromising privacy and legal protections.” This new policy is aimed at all staff, particularly field agents. The New York Times indicates that they were informed of the change in regulations in June by an internal email.

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are equipped with a small camera located on the frame, capable of recording images and sound. The American company Meta did not wish to comment on the information.

Before ICE, other administrations had already banned the use of these glasses. The State of New York notably became the first to ban the use of it in its courthouses so that “no one can be filmed without their knowledge”. According to the New York daily, certain traders have also banned them from their establishments.

The ICE, regularly criticized for its methods considered aggressive, would like to find a replacement model free of risks for the data. In the Department of Homeland Security's budget proposal presented in April 2026, the American agency requests an envelope of $7.5 million to develop its own prototype. She wants to offer agents glasses allowing “biometric identification of foreigners in an irregular situation”.