Judge Rebukes Meta Team for Wearing AI Glasses in Court

The judge threatened to hold the Meta employees in contempt if the devices recorded anything during the trial.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A Los Angeles judge sharply warned members of Mark Zuckerberg's Meta team after they showed up to a high-profile trial wearing camera-equipped smart glasses. The judge ordered anyone wearing the AI glasses to remove them, stating that any attempt to use facial recognition on jurors is prohibited. This incident was described as an "extraordinary misstep" by Meta, as recording devices are generally barred in LA County Superior Court.

Why it matters

The use of AI-powered smart glasses in a courtroom setting raises significant privacy concerns, as the technology could potentially be used to identify and record jurors and other trial participants without their consent. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between emerging technologies and established legal protocols designed to protect the integrity of judicial proceedings.

The details

During the trial, members of the Meta team escorting Zuckerberg into the building were seen wearing the Ray-Ban smart glasses. Judge Carolyn Kuhl ordered anyone wearing the AI glasses to remove them, adding that any attempt to use facial recognition on jurors is prohibited. She warned the Meta team that if they had recorded anything, they would have to dispose of it or face being held in contempt of court.

  • On February 20, 2026, the incident occurred during a high-profile trial in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The players

Mark Zuckerberg

The founder and CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), who was in court to testify in a case accusing Meta and Google's YouTube of intentionally building features that foster compulsive use among minors.

Judge Carolyn Kuhl

The judge presiding over the trial in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, who sharply warned the Meta team about the use of the AI-powered smart glasses in the courtroom.

Jacob Ward

A tech journalist and host of the Rip Current Podcast, who described the incident as an "extraordinary misstep" by Meta.

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What they’re saying

“The judge upbraided the Meta team and said if you guys have recorded anything, you have to dispose of it or I will hold you in contempt.”

— Jacob Ward, Tech journalist and podcast host (Rip Current Podcast)

What’s next

The judge will likely continue to closely monitor the use of any recording devices or facial recognition technology in the courtroom for the duration of the trial.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing emerging technologies with established legal protocols designed to protect individual privacy and the integrity of judicial proceedings. As AI-powered devices become more ubiquitous, courts will need to develop clear guidelines and enforcement mechanisms to ensure these tools are not misused in ways that undermine the fairness and transparency of the legal system.