Immigration and Customs Enforcement has reportedly told employees not to wear Meta’s camera-equipped smart glasses while working, according to accounts from Engadget and Tom’s Guide that cite The New York Times. Tom’s Guide reports that acting ICE Director David Venturella sent the memo, which treated Meta glasses as a form of personally owned body-worn camera rather than an ordinary accessory. The reported concern is straightforward: smart glasses can record audio and video from the wearer’s point of view. Both outlets say the memo warned that Meta glasses or similar devices could inadvertently capture, record, or transmit sensitive information, creating risks for privacy and legal protections. The restriction is not limited to agents conducting raids or interacting with the public. Engadget reports that the policy apparently covers all ICE employees, and Tom’s Guide says it applies to personal devices capable of recording audio or video. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The New York Times that personally owned body-worn cameras and unauthorized recordings were already prohibited, according to both reports, suggesting the memo may be a clarification of an existing rule rather than a newly created ban. The memo lands after repeated public sightings of immigration-enforcement personnel wearing Meta smart glasses. Engadget cites 404 Media’s reporting on a Customs and Border Protection agent spotted recording with the glasses despite the policy, and says another Border Patrol member wore a pair during an immigration raid. Both Engadget and Tom’s Guide also cite The Independent’s investigation into sightings in at least six states; Tom’s Guide says some instances appeared to involve agents photographing or recording members of the public. The policy concern is control of the footage. Tom’s Guide frames the issue as the government potentially losing oversight when recordings sit on a personal device or move through Meta’s platform, rather than being handled through authorized evidence or records systems. That is distinct from whether a government agency may use body-worn cameras at all: the issue described in the reports is unauthorized, personally owned recording hardware in federal workplaces and enforcement settings. The reports also point to a tension around federal use of the technology. Even as ICE is reportedly reminding employees not to use Meta glasses or similar devices while they work, Engadget says budget documents reported by independent journalist Ken Klippenstein indicate ICE wants bespoke smart glasses with biometric identification capabilities by next year. Tom’s Guide separately cites Gizmodo reporting that DHS has explored smart glasses combined with biometric databases and facial recognition to identify people in real time. For Meta, the episode keeps Ray-Ban Meta glasses in the privacy spotlight. Engadget notes that Meta has not publicly weighed in on whether the product is suited to law enforcement, while both items point to broader scrutiny of the device’s recording features and indicator light. The reporting does not establish that Meta is working with ICE on this memo or on any official DHS system; it shows that consumer smart glasses are increasingly colliding with workplace, surveillance, and public-accountability rules. Who benefits: DHS and ICE legal, privacy, and compliance teams benefit if the memo reduces unauthorized recordings and keeps sensitive footage inside approved systems. Members of the public interacting with agents may also benefit from clearer limits on personal recording devices. Who's exposed: ICE employees who wear personal smart glasses at work are exposed to policy enforcement if the memo is applied. Meta’s smart-glasses business remains exposed to privacy scrutiny when its products appear in law-enforcement settings.