Meta Employees Reprimanded for Wearing Glasses to Zuckerberg's Trial

Judge orders team to dispose of any recordings made in the courtroom.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Members of Mark Zuckerberg's entourage were reprimanded in court on Wednesday for wearing camera-enabled Ray Ban-Meta Glasses to the tech billionaire's social media trial. The judge ordered the Meta team to dispose of any recordings made in the courtroom, warning that they would be held in contempt if they did not comply.

Why it matters

The use of recording devices in courtrooms is typically banned, with limited exceptions, as it can compromise the privacy and integrity of legal proceedings. This incident highlights the challenges courts face in maintaining order and protecting sensitive information in an era of ubiquitous technology.

The details

During the trial, which alleges that Instagram and YouTube intentionally designed products to addict young users, the judge upbraided the Meta team and said if they had recorded anything, they would have to dispose of it or face contempt of court charges. The judge also asked anyone wearing the glasses to remove them to protect the jurors' identities.

  • On February 19, 2026, the incident occurred during Mark Zuckerberg's social media trial in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County.

The players

Mark Zuckerberg

The CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook) who was on trial for the company's alleged design of addictive social media products.

Judge Carolyn Kuhl

The judge presiding over the social media trial in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County.

Jacob Ward

An eyewitness and tech journalist who hosts the 'Rip Current' podcast and reported on the incident.

Superior Court of Los Angeles County

The court where the social media trial was taking place and where the incident occurred.

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What they’re saying

“This is very serious.”

— Judge Carolyn Kuhl (CBS News)

What’s next

The judge will likely continue to monitor the courtroom and enforce the ban on recording devices to ensure the integrity of the proceedings.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing tension between emerging technologies and the need to protect the privacy and fairness of legal proceedings. Courts must balance the public's interest in transparency with the need to maintain order and protect sensitive information, especially as new recording devices become more ubiquitous.